Luke Bellerose had a goal and an assist, Brady Tatro notched two helpers, and Matt Radomsky made 20 saves as the Steinbach Pistons beat the Dauphin Kings 4-1 Saturday night at Credit Union Place.
The Pistons gained a measure of revenge over the Kings, who won 4-3 in OT last Saturday night in Steinbach. They poured on continuous pressure on the Dauphin net, outshooting them 59-21 on the night. Brennan Kitchen stimmied the Pistons once again, stopping 55 shots in the loss. With the win, the Pistons have picked up points in 12 straight games.
The Pistons put 26 shots on Kitchen in the first period, yet they were only up 1-0 after the first period. Tatro and Bellerose combined to set up a left point shot by Mark Taraschuk. His shot found its way through bodies past Kitchen, and Taraschuk scored his 9th goal of the year at 8:27 in the first.
Steinbach continued the pressure in the second, throwing the “kitchen” sink at Kitchen, but the Kings defence held up through most of the period. Late in the period, a loose puck behind the net found its way onto the tape of Bradley Schoonbaert, and Schoonbaert fired one past the blocker of Kitchen to give Steinbach a 2-0 lead at the 14:36 mark. The goal gives Schoonbaert his 34th of the season, one back of Tyler Penner’s franchise record of 35 goals in a season.
Dauphin got a 4 minute power play late in the second, and they capitalized early on the double minor as Thomas Hansell scored his 14th of the season from Wilson Northey and Jacob Evans with 43 seconds remaining in the period.
The Kings came hard at the Pistons in the third, but Radomsky came up huge with 7 big saves in the first seven minutes of the third. Then the Pistons got momentum right back, and controlled play for the remainder of the game. Luke Bellerose restored the two-goal lead, as he drove to the net and took a pass from Brady Tatro, where he tapped it in for his 2nd goal in a Piston uniform. Tatro and Declan Graham picked up assists on the Bellerose marker with 5:02 remaining.
Tanner Mole sealed it, as he took a pass from Tyson McConnell and potted it in the open cage to give the Pistons a 4-1 victory. The goal is Mole’s 6th of the year.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Pistons did not score on their only man advantage opportunity, and the Kings went 1/6 on the PP.
UP NEXT: The Pistons are back at the TG Smith Centre on Louis Riel Day, as they take on the Winkler Flyers. The game is the only afternoon game for the Pistons at home this season, as the puck drops at 2:30 pm. Don’t forget that after the game is the Family Day skate, where your family has the opportunity to skate on the ice after the game with your Steinbach Pistons! Join us for a fun afternoon of hockey!