The Steinbach Pistons surrendered 5 consecutive goals between the first and second periods en route to a 6-3 drubbing at the hands of the Portage Terriers on Wednesday night.

The home team Pistons came out flat as Portage pushed the pace early in the opening period, eventually resulting in a goal near the midway point. James McIsaac cashed in on the power play to make it 1-0 Terriers.

Steinbach responded just over five minutes later when captain Braden Purtill scored his 10th goal of the season from Jack Lenchyshyn and Austin Heidemann to make it 1-1.

Portage got the lead back after Joey Moffatt roofed a wrister over the shoulder of Matthew Thiessen. It was a 2-1 Portage lead after 20 minutes.

In the second, Steinbach struggled to keep pace as Portage scored four straight goals. Jeremey Leipsic, Rylee Zimmer (first as a Terrier after being acquired in a trade earlier in the week), Ty Barnstable and Cole Oliver were credited with the goals as the Terriers lead swelled to 6-1 after two periods.

In the third, Steinbach made a goalie change as Matt Radomsky came in for Thiessen and picked up a pair of goals that made the scoreboard look a little better. Darby Gula found the back of the net for his second of the year on the power play from Bradley Schoonbaert and Declan Graham. . 

Graham would collect his second point of the night as he scored to make it 6-3. For Graham, it's his second goal in as many games. Newcomer Brendan Martin picked up his first assist as a member of the Steinbach Pistons and Brady Tatro also got an assist on the Graham goal.

Late in the third period, Tatro and former Piston Scott Mickoski dropped the gloves but no real punches connected and both players eventually were wrestled to the ice.

Radomsky stopped all 9 shots that came his way in the third period. The power play was 1 for 6 while the penalty kill was 4 for 6. 

Thiessen made 19 saves on 25 shots before being relieved for the third period and Head coach Paul Dyck know's he can't fault his goalie for the teams night. "We just didn't play well in front of him. Our compete level didn't match theirs. We had no execution in regards to our game plan right from the beginning. When you're not competing, you're not going to win battles and the results indicated that. We really got what we deserved tonight."

Captain Braden Purtill echoed similar sentiment post-game. "Our compete level was minimal and we're going to lose the games we don't compete in. We need to get back to wanting it more than the other team." 

Steinbach will have a day of video and practice before the Swan Valley Stampeders come to town on Friday night.