Content Provided By: Steinbach Online
Zach Burleigh made several key saves at big moments, allowing his teams offense to get going and eventually pull out a 4-0 win over the Winnipeg Blues on Friday night.
Steinbach was already without several key bodies due to injury and the World Jr A Challenge taking place, so they went with 11 forwards and 7 defenders. They would lose more as the game went on.
The game started with a bang as Mathis Laplante set a physical tone early as he laid a massive check at center ice, bringing the home fans and his teammates to their feet.
Winnipeg came out strong early but Steinbach pushed back and tilted the ice, generating several good chances on goal.
It remained scoreless after 20 minutes with shots in Steinbach’s favor 12-9.
Things opened up a bit to start the second period. Burleigh made a massive save after the Blues worked the puck from the corner to the front of the net but the 19-year-old goaltender turned away the glorious chance, keeping things locked at 0-0.
Within the first couple of minutes, the Blues had a couple of odd man rushes, one that was turned away by an excellent defensive play by Cale Quamme, who hustled back to take a good looking chance away from the Blues.
As the play continued, Aaron Krestanowich ran through his man behind the net before kicking the puck up to Laplante. Laplante dished over to Ryan McDonald who tore into the Blues zone. After the pass, Laplante blazed a trail to the net and McDonald hit him with a perfect pass which Laplante put top shelf for his 12th of the year.
Luc Degagne would add to the lead less than a minute later. Good work again down low by Steinbach earned them the puck and it was Connor Paronuzzi who hit Degagne in the slot and the 18-year-old put a shot on goal that looked like it hit something in front before finding its way to the back of the net for his 3rd of the season.
In the third, it was Burleigh again called to make a number of big saves, keeping his team in the lead until the offense put the game away.
Jamie Fuchs was in the right place at the right time as the 20-year-old was in front of the net when a Krestanowich point shot was tipped by Laplante and while that chance was stopped, the rebound was there for Fuchs to cash in on his 14th of the year, putting Steinbach up 3-0.
Things were chippy throughout the game and it boiled over after Brody Green was given a hard check in the defensive zone, Brayden Barnett stood up for his teammates and dropped the gloves with the guilty Blue player. The build up was intense but the fight itself was short lived and Barnett scored the takedown.
Any doubt about the outcome was put away when on a power play, a loose puck found the stick of Paronuzzi who made no mistake, tapping home his second in as many games giving him 11 on the year. Krestanowich notched his third assist of the game while Grady Hoffman also picked up a helper.
That 4-0 lead would hold through the rest of the game and Burleigh posted his third shutout of the year making 23 saves.
The Pistons had to patchwork a lineup throughout the contest. Several players were forced out of the game due to various injuries and at one point, Steinbach moved a defender up to play forward due to missing so many bodies.
A Saturday night road game aways as the Pistons will make their way to Waywayseecappo to battle the Wolverines.