Content Provided By: Steinbach Online
The Steinbach Pistons finished off their regular season by posting back-to-back shutouts, winning 4-0 on Friday then 6-0 on Saturday.
Celebrating Grads
On Friday, the Neepawa Titans came to La Broquerie for the last regular season game at the Hylife Centre, a matchup that saw Steinbach run away late, eventually winning 4-0.
Prior to puck drop, the Pistons fans acknowledged the 20-year-old graduating players. Leo Chambers, Trey Sauder, Kirk Mullen, Cole Plowman, Hunter Degelman, Parker Jasper, Jack Cook and David Cote.
Both teams took some time in the first period to feel the game out.
Cole Plowman got the start for Steinbach and made some big saves in the opening period to keep things even until Steinbach could get on the board.
After a couple of great shifts in the offensive zone, Sam Noad and Jackson Kostiuk kept the pressure up thanks to hard work and forechecking. After outworking the Titans down low, the puck found Brayden Berg who buried his 11th of the year, putting Steinbach up 1-0 after the first period.
In the second, Steinbach piled up shots and chances but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Plowman did his part, making an incredible shoulder save off a chance in front of the net, keeping it a 1-0 game heading into the third.
With under five minutes to go in the game, Liam Doyle started a rush from his own zone, streaking up the boards and eventually driving towards the net. Trey Sauder joined him and drove to the front of the crease with his stick on the ice. Doyle hit Sauder with a great pass and the 20-year-old directed in his 21st of the season. Jackson Kostiuk notched his second assist on the night with the secondary helper.
With the Titans net empty, Leo Chambers filtered a puck the length of the ice and into the yawning cage for the captain’s 23rd of the season. David Cote picked up the lone assist on the 3-0 goal.
Steinbach would strike one more time as Brandon Funk drove the net and potted his 21st of the year from Kirk Mullen and Jamie Fuchs.
Plowman was rock solid, ending his spectacular regular season with a 24-save shutout. The win was the veteran’s 30th of the year.
Steinbach’s power play was 0-2 while the penalty kill was 2-2.
Despite the loss, the Titans clinched the final spot in the MGEU West Division as the Waywayseecappo Wolverines lost, ensuring that Neepawa punched their ticket to the post season.
See Ya Regular Season
Coming off a shutout the night before, it was Beck Liden’s turn for a clean sheet as the 18-year-old rookie made 15 saves helping Steinbach blank the Winnipeg Freeze 6-0 to end the regular season.
In the first period, Steinbach piled up the shots and chances. With under five minutes to go in the period, Shane Burns walked into a slapshot from the point and unloaded a cannon that found the back of the net for his 4th of the year from Jackson Kostiuk and Spencer Penner.
The 1-0 lead the remainder of the period and the Pistons took the lead into the break.
In the second, Liden was called upon to keep his team in the lead as the leading scorer of the Freeze was sprung on a breakaway but Liden stood tall, turning away the Winnipeg sniper.
Another chance later in the frame for Winnipeg as a scramble in front of the goal had everyone on the edge of their seat but it was Steinbach finding the loose puck first and clearing the zone, relieving the pressure.
With under two minutes to go in the second, Dawson McCann put a point shot toward the net, banking it off a Freeze player in front and in for his 2nd goal of the year. Brett Kaiser and Kostiuk were given the assists.
Things cranked up in a big way in the second half of the third period.
Leo Chambers got the scoring parade started as he buried his second in as many games giving him 24 on the season from Grady Hoffman and Sam Noad.
Jamie Fuchs hit the 20-goal marker as the 19-year-old cashed in from Kirk Mullen and Brandon Funk, extending the lead to 4-0.
A short time later, it was David Cote sniping his 7th of the year unassisted to make it 5-0.
The final goal of the night came on a power play as Fuchs batted home a loose puck for his 21st from Funk and Mullen.
Liden’s second MJHL shutout made it 17 wins on the year for the rookie.
Steinbach’s power play was 1-6 while the penalty kill was a perfect 3-3.
Up Next
Steinbach now knows who they will be facing off in the first round of the playoffs and it’s the Niverville Nighthawks. The series schedule will come out later this week.