Content provided by Steinbachonline.com – Picture provided by Scott Strohl – Icewavemedia
The Steinbach Pistons went down by two in the first period, but they got better as the game went along, eventually coming out of the Southeast Event Centre with a 5-3 win over the Waywayseecappo Wolverines.
First period
In the first couple of minutes, the Pistons took control of the play. They moved pucks quickly and generated a couple of shots, but it would be the Wolverines that scored first while on a power play, taking a 1-0 lead.
A few minutes later, a point shot by Wayway was perfectly tipped in front, finding the back of the net to extend the lead to 2-0.
Liam Doyle pulled the Pistons a little closer, teeing off on a one-timer while on the power play, cutting the lead to 2-1.
Coming off being named MJHL Defenseman of the Month, Zhenya Miles picked up the first assist while Jack Greenwell nabbed the secondary helper.
Second period
While the first period felt like Steinbach was stuck in the mud for stretches, hemmed by the speed and determination of the Wolverines, the second period started to flip things thanks to the line of Eric Han, Mason Landry, and Logan Mehl. The young trio played a tight-checking, hard-nosed brand of hockey that pulled the Pistons onto another level, helping to elevate the overall team game.
While their hard work was not rewarded on the scoresheet, they did help to create a power play opportunity where Rory Gilmour took a one-touch pass from Brody Green, and wired home his first MJHL goal, knotting up the game 2-2. Liam Doyle collected his second point of the game with the secondary assist.
Third period
Throughout the first two periods, the Pistons battled, keeping the team hanging around until one of the big guns could step up and grab the game.
Cue Jack Greenwell and Cullen Ingebritson.
Steinbach picked up their first lead thanks to a great pass by Ingebritson, who found Greenwell tearing to the net, and set up the 20-year-old for his fifth of the season, moving the Pistons ahead 3-2.
Ingebritson would again assist on a Greenwell goal a little while later, as the gutsy forward, playing with full face protection after suffering a broken nose resulting in stitches from a game on Tuesday, forced a turnover at the offensive blueline, springing Greenwell for a shorthanded breakaway. He made no mistake for his sixth of the year, giving Steinbach a 4-2. lead.
Wayway used a fortuitous bounce to get back to within one, trailing 4-3.
A last power play chance for the Wolverines moved the over 1500 people in attendance to the edge of their seats, but a gutsy penalty kill mixed in with some timely saves by Chris Quizi, kept the Pistons on top.
Marek Miller sealed the victory by knocking a pass attempt out of the air and burying his second of the year into an open net, making it a 5-3 game.
Game notes
Steinbach’s power play played a key role in getting them back into the game, and finished 2/5 on the night. The penalty kill gave up a goal in the first, but responded with two timely kills, finishing 2/3.
Quizi improved to 4-0-1 by making 19 saves on the night.
Up next
Steinbach will head into Winnipeg to take on the Blues on Saturday night.
Game Highlights
