Content Provided By: Steinbach Online
They may have been short bodies but they were not lacking in heart and effort as the Steinbach Pistons clawed out a massive 4-3 win over the Winkler Flyers on Wednesday night.
Heading into the game, the Pistons were without Chad Cote, David Cote, Shane Burns, Jackson Kostiuk, Jack Cook, Brayden Berg, and Hunter Degelman.
Forced to go with 11 forwards and 5 defenders, one of which was forward Dawson McCann, who’s been a great soldier the last few weeks filling in on the backend, didn’t hold the Pistons back as they came out strong in the opening period.
Both teams went back and forth in the opening minutes, keeping things simple. Both goalies felt the puck, both teams made some hits, showed a little speed, and kept it tight-checking.
Steinbach would break through on a power play as Kirk Mullen and Parker Jasper exchanged passes up near the blue line. As Sam Noad battled and fought for space in front of the Winkler netminder, Mullen snuck over to a quiet area, took a pass from Jasper, and fired the puck home as Noad was being knocked into the Flyers goalie.
Mullen’s 14th of the year was the 20-year-old’s first goal in 6 games and he made sure to toss the monkey off his back and into the Winkler Centennial Arena stands as he made his way to the bench for the fly-by. “I’ve never had a slump like that”, Mullen said with a smile after the game. “Felt really, really good to get the win and to finally pot on. Long time coming.” The 1-0 marker was assisted by Jasper and Brandon Funk.
In the second, the lead would grow after some great work by the Pistons to keep the puck in the Flyer’s zone, Brady Ingebritson showcased his elite hands and speed by driving the puck wide before cutting to the net and burying a shot up and under the bar for his 7th of the year.
After going up 2-0, the Pistons were sent to the penalty box twice in quick succession, giving Winkler a glorious chance to get back into the game.
The penalty kill would have none of it, though.
For over a minute, the Flyers worked the puck around the zone but excellent work by Noah Szabo, Liam Doyle and Leo Chambers, plus timely saves by Cole Plowman kept the Flyers at bay.
During one sequence, Szabo blocked a shot with his leg, prompting the 19-year-old to go down. Knowing his team could not afford that as they were already down two men, Szabo got back up and kept killing the penalty.
After the 5 on 3 came to an end but still down a man, the Flyers looked to have broken through but Plowman stretched across the crease and made a sensational, 10-bell save to keep Winkler off the board.
Moments after that save, the Pistons got back to 5 on 5 and Grady Hoffman took a chip pass from Chambers, stormed towards the net and buried a wrister that sent the Pistons fans and their bench into a frenzy.
Hoffman’s team-leading 18th was assisted by Chambers and Szabo, both of whom, along with Doyle, killed over a 1:40 of penalties before the goal.
The Flyers would ruin the fun as they scored twice quickly, including once on yet another power play, to cut the lead to 3-2 heading into the intermission.
Just over three minutes into the 3rd, the Flyers would get even as they tied the game 3-3.
Steinbach seemed to pick things up and pushed looking for the go-ahead goal.
They’d find it off the stick of Liam Doyle who fired a point shot that found the back of the net for the rookie’s 3rd of the year, putting the Pistons back up 4-3. Chambers collected his second point of the night on the goal.
Winkler tried but could never get anything going, even with the goalie pulled.
Steinbach looked like they would seal the deal with an empty net goal in the final seconds as Ingebritson and Hoffman went in on a two-on-one with no goalie. Ingebritson passed it to Hoffman who one-timed it right off the post.
“It’s funnier now that the game is over. Wasn’t funny at the time”, someone said after the game.
The blown empty netter didn’t matter as Steinbach killed the remaining time and closed out a very impressive 4-3 win in regulation.
Plowman was rock solid yet again, finishing with 26 saves on the night.
Steinbach’s power play finished 1/4 while the penalty kill was a star finishing 4/5.
Steinbach and the walking wounded will have a week or so off thanks to the Christmas Break. The next game action is January 5th at the Hylfe Centre in La Broquerie as they welcome in the Portage Terriers.