Kyle Bettens netted two goals and two assists while Zach Purcell netted a pair as the Steinbach Pistons have moved into a tie for first place with a 6-2 win over the Dauphin Kings Saturday night.
Bryce Young and Codey Behun had the other tallies for Steinbach while Matt Lenz stopped 22 of 24 shots for his 14th win of the season. Matthias Smith and Zach Grouette split time in goal for the Kings, with Smith stopping 16 of 18 shots and Grouette blocking 9 for 13 shots.
The Pistons got on the board just 1:16 into the game as Evan Kaufman flipped the puck out to centre ice. Bettens raced onto the puck, beat the Dauphin d-men, and chipped the puck over Smith for his 8th goal on the campaign and a 1-0 Pistons lead.
Steinbach would extend their lead on the PP on a nice cross-ice pass from Bettens to Zach Purcell, and the man they call ‘Teddy’ one-timed it home. Curtis Ireland had the bonus helper on Purcell’s 7th of the season with 7:25 to play in the first period.
Dauphin coach Doug Hedley made the change at the halfway point of the second period to Grouette, and the Pistons pounced shortly after. Purcell scored his second on the night as he deflected a Kaufman point shot in for a 3-0 Steinbach lead.
56 seconds later, Bryce Young netted his first as a Piston on a wrister through the legs of Grouette for a 4-0 Steinbach advantage with 3:52 to go.
Dauphin would end Matt Lenz’s shutout bid 50 seconds into the final period on a power play goal by Cole DeKoninck. But the home team would get that one right back a minute and a half later on a Kings turnover, as Codey Behun went post and in for his team leading 11th goal of the season.
Kyle Bettens would pick up his second assist on Behun’s goal, and would score his second of the night on another breakaway for a 6-1 lead with six minutes to play.
The Kings would get one back on the man advantage as Noah Wagner tucked the puck in at the side of the goal with under five minutes to play. But that’s all they would get as Steinbach skated away with their third straight win on their four-game homestand.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Steinbach went 1 for 2 with the man advantage while the Kings went 2 for 6.
UP NEXT: The Pistons conclude their homestand tomorrow night before a big three games in three nights trip on Thursday as they take on the Waywayseecappo Wolverines. NOTE: Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm tomorrow; you can get your tickets online at Steinbachpistons.ca/tickets or one hour prior to puck drop at the ticket gate.