Riese Gaber and Daniel McKitrick registered three points, and Will Koop, Mark Wilson, Jack Johnson, and Drew Worrad all registered two points as the Steinbach Pistons defeated the Selkirk Steelers 8-2 Friday night in Selkirk.
The Pistons outshot the Steelers 40-24, and Matthew Thiessen made 22 saves to pick up his 21st win of the season. Zachary Bennett made 32 saves for Selkirk in the loss.
It was the Steelers that controlled much of the play in the first 15 minutes, as they had a 5-on-3 power play early in the first but could not capitalize. They got on the board first, as a Thiessen pass behind his own net was intercepted, and Shanan McFadden buried the loose change in front for the first goal of the game. It was McFadden’s 7th of the year from William Middleton and Cole Thompson at the 15:14 mark of the first.
After that, the Pistons quickly responded as Luke Bellerose threw a shot at the pad of Bennett, and the rebound bounced right to Brady Tatro. Tatro made no mistake to tie the game at 17:11 from Bellerose and Curtis Ireland. Then the Pistons got 2 goals in 37 seconds to end the first period. Will Koop scored his 19th of the season from Jack Johnson with 1:05 left, and then Tyson McConnell notched his 17th of the season on the power play from Bradley Schoonbaert and Drew Worrad with 38 seconds left. The Pistons led 3-1 after 20 minutes.
Steinbach got another power play chance in the second, and the puck was worked around to Riese Gaber at the side of the net. He moved out in front and roofed a backhand over the glove hand of Bennett. Daniel McKitrick and Mark Wilson picked up the assists on Gaber’s 19th of the season, and 4th goal in the past 3 games. Austin Heidemann notched his 18th of the season on a sweet feed from Worrad to make it 5-1 after 40 minutes of play.
Wilson added a goal on another 5-on-3 power play for the Pistons’ sixth goal of the game. Gaber and McKitrick picked up assists on Wilson’s 4th of the year at the 6:47 mark of the third. Brendan Martin continued his hot play when he picked up his 12th of the year from Gaber and Declan Graham at 13:45.
Nico Labossiere responded for Selkirk 32 seconds later with his 14th of the year from Connor Barley and Nate Halvorsen. Will Koop concluded the scoring, when he added his second of the night and 20th of the year from McKitrick and Jack Johnson.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Pistons went 3 for 7 on the power play, and killed off all 3 penalties they faced.
UP NEXT: These two teams will go at for the sixth and final time this season tomorrow night. It’s Miller Day at the TG Smith Centre, and the Pistons will be wearing special Miller Day jerseys to commemorate this special day. The puck drops at 7:30 pm, you can get your tickets online at Steinbachpistons.ca.