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Down by two heading into the third period, the Steinbach found their game, managed tie things up in regulation and in overtime, looked like they won until a questionable call took the goal back, eventually giving the Winkler Flyers a 4-3 shootout win.
Prior to puck drop, a special moment as the Pistons celebrated the second night of their parents weekend. Families of the players made their way onto the ice where they were presented with a keep-sake from their son and got together for big group photo.
The smiles of the moment quickly faded as off the opening faceoff, both teams jousted, hacked and whacked, signaling intentions for the contest.
In the first, the Pistons and Flyers showed why they are the top two teams in the MJHL. It was a face paced, scrappy, hard, tight-checking game. Both teams understood that you have to take a punch to give one back.
Winkler opened the scoring after a hard forecheck and a wraparound, putting the visitors up 1-0.
For stretches throughout the first period, the Pistons struggled to move pucks and at times, the speed of the Flyers overwhelmed the home side in all three zones.
A lucky break for the Pistons but a not-so-lucky break for a linesmen, produced the game tying goal.
On an attempted dump-in, a hard shot hit the linesmen in the midsection. While he went down, the play continued and Sam Zagari slid a pass across to Grady Hoffman, who wired home his 18th of the season. Matt Munro picked up the secondary assist.
Still in the first, the Flyers grabbed the lead back off an offensive zone faceoff and the visitors took that 2-1 lead into the second.
Limited chances in the opening period were evident on the shot clock with Steinbach being outshot 16-8 in the first twenty minutes.
In the first minute of the second, the Flyers broke into the zone and scored a quick one, taking a 3-1 lead just 19 seconds into the frame.
Winkler controlled much of the second period, using their aggressive forecheck to cause issues, moving pucks quickly and not giving the Pistons any time or space anywhere on the ice.
Shots in the second period were listed at 17-5 for the Flyers.
The Pistons’ comeback started early in the third when Sam Noad won a draw in the offensive zone back to Reece Gault. Gault put a shot on the net and Noad tipped it perfectly for his 12th of the season, getting his team back to within one, 3-2.
With under a minute to go, the Flyers took a checking from behind penalty which would put the Pistons on a power play. Combined with the empty net, it was a 6-on-4 Steinbach advantage.
After managing to keep the puck alive in the zone, Connor Paronuzzi teed up Noah Szabo who hammered home a point shot to tie the game 3-3. For the captain, it was his 9th of the year. Mathis Laplante, who earned an increased role throughout the game because of his hard work, skill and determination, also picked up an assist.
For the league’s leading scorer Paronuzzi, he’s up to 61 assists on the year and extended his point streak to 15-games.
In overtime, Steinbach carried over what made them effective in the third. They used their skating, something they did not do much in the first two period, and generated chances.
Steinbach looked as though they won the game in overtime when a scrum at the side of the net caused the Winkler netminder to react before a whistle had been blown. A loose puck was then centered for Ty Paisley who scored into the open net.
The call on the ice was a goal.
The Flyers goalie along with the players on the ice argued the call.
The officials on the ice talked and while the referee closest to the play, who had the best view of things called it a goal, after conversing with the other officials reversed the call, stating no-goal.
Questionable as it may have been, Steinbach was able to mentally reset and refocus.
Overtime solved nothing and the two teams were headed to a shootout for a second consecutive matchup.
The Flyers scored on their first two shootout attempts.
Jamie Fuchs, needing to score to keep his team alive, did just that. Fuchs has become a shootout specialist of late, scoring on his last three attempts on the season.
Christian Green stood tall on the Winkler shooter, giving his team a chance to tie it.
Unfortunately for the home side, the forward tasked with trying to even things up lost control of the puck and never got a shot away, giving the Flyers a 4-3 shootout win.
Shots which were heavily in favour of the Flyers through 40 minutes, evened out a bit but not really, 46-34 Winkler.
A big power play goal at the end gave Steinbach a point, with the power play finishing 1-3. The penalty kill was perfect, going 2-2 on the night.
Christian Green was solid in net making 43 saves, the most saves he’s been tasked with since December 17th.
The Pistons earning a crucial point, combined with a Portage Terriers regulation loss, are five points ahead with the same amount of games played.
A few days off will do the team good. They next see action on Thursday as the group heads to Virden to battle the Oil Capitals.