The Pistons hit the road on Wednesday night for what is the team’s favourite road trip simply due to how short it is! That’s right the Pistons take on the Nighthawks at the Nivevrille CRRC.
The Pistons have faced the Nighthawks 3 times so far this season and Steinbach is currently 2-1 versus their newest local rival. The last meeting was a 3-2 Steinbach win on January 14th at the Niverville CRRC. After Wednesday, the Nighthawks will come to the HyLife Centre one more time. As it currently stands, the two teams could face each other in the first round of the playoffs so you can expect these last two matchups to be intense.
The Pistons have come out a little flat footed in their last couple games but continue to find different ways to win which has been a key trait of this year’s team. No doubt the Nighthawks will bring their best on Wednesday night so the Pistons need to come out with some jump in order to stay ahead.
The team that strikes first could have an impact on who comes out with the win.
SPECIAL TEAMS
PISTONS: PP 36/163 – 22.1% PK 176/193 – 91.2%
NIGHTHAWKS: PP 28/180 – 15.6% PK 161/189 – 85.2%
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Pistons: Spencer Penner
Coming off of a three point night that included two goals, Penner has been playing some great hockey this season for this season despite not always getting the accolades for it. The 19-year-old defenseman from Blumenort has become a big part of the Pistons penalty kill. Penner goes to work every shift and has become a key shutdown defenseman for Steinbach. Look for him to continue his stellar play on Wednesday in Niverville after a confidence boosting night at home on Sunday.
Nighthawks: Michael Debrito
Speaking of hard working players, Nighthawks forward Michael Debrito definitely fits that description. With 8 points in his last 8 games, 2 of which against the Pistons on January 14th, Debrito has been getting rewarded for his hard work. He was a very impactful player the last time the Nighthawks faced off against the Pistons. The 20-year-old has tallied up 17 goals and 13 assists so far this season.
Puck drop at the Niverville CRRC is at 7:00pm. Catch the game on Flo Hockey or listen to voice of the Pistons Dave Anthony over at DAbroadcasting.mixlr.com.
Road Report brought to you by Compass Coach Lines. Visit them at www.compasscoachlines.com.