Content Provided By: Steinbach Online
An early third period marker by Luc DeGagne, his first in the MJHL, made it a 2-0 game at the time and though the Norther Manitoba Blizzard made it close, the Pistons held on to win 2-1 in a thrilling, back and forth goalie battle.
Coming off a victory the night before, the Pistons were feeling good. The Blizzard on the other hand were a bit upset after being embarrassed on home ice the previous game and it showed in their game right away. They played fast, hard, in-your-face style hockey and the Pistons were more than happy to play along.
Steinbach’s Brett Kaiser was working in the offensive zone when he was hit from behind in the corner, putting the visitors on the power play for the first time. Kaiser was quick to get back to his feet and the Blizzard were given a minor for boarding. Despite some good puck control, Steinbach never really got set up and couldn’t crack the 0-0 score.
There were times throughout the opening period where the Pistons made life more difficult on themselves then needed. Instances of struggling to string passes together or some glaring turnovers in the defensive zone, gave the Blizzard more than what they maybe had earned.
Christian Green wasn’t tested by the numbers but the 20-year-old made some big times saves, keeping his team even throughout the first.
Toward the end of the period, Brayden Barnett went in for a hit to separate his name from the puck but caught the smaller forward from behind. While the hit looked similar to the one Kaiser took earlier in the frame, Barnett was assessed a 5-minute major and a game misconduct. The Blizzard player that was hit stayed down for a minute or so before getting up and making his way to the bench. He would stay in the game.
The Pistons penalty kill went to work, keeping the Blizzard from getting anything going during their 5 minute power play. Steinbach’s defenders allowed only 3 shots, all of which were handled by Christian Green.
After a scoreless first, Steinbach’s penalty kill factored into the goal that gave the Pistons the lead in the second.
While shorthanded, Jackson Kostiuk, who late last week was announced he’d be attending Canada West camp for the upcoming Junior A Challenge, took a beautiful stretch pass from Spencer Penner and broke in on a two-on-one with Brayden Berg. Kostiuk kept and scored his 9th of the season, a beautiful shot to put Steinbach up 1-0.
It’s the second game in a row the Pistons have scored a shorthanded goal. “You can’t score shorthanded if you don’t take a penalty”, one person said after the Kostiuk marker.
Both teams had their chances in that second period but the goalies were up to the task. Steinbach outshot the Blizzard 13-12 in the period and took a 1-0 lead into the third.
Nearing the midway point of the period, a great hardworking forecheck by Cole Cairns kept the Blizzard hemmed into their zone, frustrating them that no matter what they did, Cairns was right there to cause chaos.
All that work from Cairns paid off as he managed to free up a puck that went to Luc DeGagne who wired home a perfect shot for his first in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. The 18-year-old from Lorette was all smiles leading the fly-by at his bench.
It proved to be a massive goal for Steinbach.
Being down 2-0, the Blizzard pushed back and after a failed attempt to clear the zone, the Blizzard forced a puck to the crease area and while Green made 2 in tight saves, the third attempt was jammed through him and in to cut the lead to 2-1.
That’s as close as Northern Manitoba would get though, as Green and the Pistons locked down the rest of the game, bringing home a 2-1 win and improving their record to 19-4-1 on the season.
The power play had their chances to blow the game open but couldn’t convert, finishing 0-4 while the penalty kill was a perfect 2-2, including that 5-minute major kill in the first.
Christian Green picked up his second consecutive win giving him 15 on the season. He made 25 saves on the night and have many who were watching talking about just how solid of a goaltender he is.
Also talked about was Jamie Fuchs, who one fan said they would be happy to not see again after the 20-year-old wrecking ball caused headaches for the Blizzard all night lone, especially his dogged forechecking on the penalty kill.
Steinbach will have a mid-week game as they travel to Winnipeg to take on the surging Freeze.