It was a sparkling debut for 20-year-old Michael King, who recorded a natural hat-trick in the second period as the Steinbach Pistons got some redemption for last week with a convincing 6-1 win over the Selkirk Steelers Friday night at the TG Smith Centre.
King is the first ever Piston to score a hat-trick in his debut, and now has the fastest hat-trick in Pistons history as he scored his three goals within five minutes and sixteen seconds.
Matt Osadick also notched two goals in the third period, and Rylan Bettens opened the scoring for Steinbach. Quinton Pepper, Ty Naaykens, and Denton Mateychuk each had two assists on the evening. Thomas Couture made 19 saves for his third win of the season.
Bettens got the party started for the Pistons as Osadick forced a turnover in Steeler territory, and the Winnipeg native picked the corner past Selkirk goalie William Desmarais for his second goal of the season with 1:36 left in the first period.
Then King went off in the second period. His first goal was thanks to the hard work of linemates Codey Behun and Ty Naaykens as they fished the puck free in the corner, and then Naaykens fed King in the slot for a wicked wrister upstairs to make it 2-0 Pistons at 4:57. Behun also notched an assist on the play, giving the fourth-year player his 100th career MJHL point in the process.
The 20-year-old, who was selected in the first round by Steinbach in the 2015 MJHL Draft, notched his second goal on the power play as he deflected a Denton Mateychuk shot past Desmarais at the seven-minute mark of the second period for a 3-0 advantage. Jonny Lambos, also making his debut for the Pistons on defence, had the extra apple on the play as Mateychuk picked up his first career MJHL point in the process.
King would get his third straight goal as a power play was just about to expire, as Pepper fed him with a nice cross-ice pass for a one-timer that found the back of the net. Mateychuk had the secondary helper on King’s third of the night at 10:12 of the second period, and the Pistons led 4-0.
Osadick notched his first even strength goal of the 2020-21 campaign, taking a nifty feed in front of the net from linemate Pepper and depositing the puck into the back of the net, with Bettens getting the bonus assist at around the five-minute mark of the third.
And then the University of Maine commit unleashed a lethal one-timer on the power play that beat Desmarais clean to the glove side for his second of the night, and a 6-0 Steinbach lead halfway through the third. Sam Court and Naaykens had the helpers on Osadick’s 6th goal of the season.
Eric Krywy would break Couture’s goose egg with 4:06 to play to net the Steelers’ only goal of the game, but the result was pretty much decided as Steinbach skated away with two points at the final buzzer.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Steinbach went 3 for 6 on the power play and killed off only one penalty they faced.
UP NEXT: The scheduled game between the Pistons and Steelers on Sunday, November 1st at the Selkirk Recreational Complex has been re-scheduled to Saturday, October 31st at the TG Smith Centre at 7:30 pm.
Due to the timing being so short notice and it now being a bonus home game, the Pistons will be releasing tickets to the general public for Saturday night. We ask that you come in family household groups, that you wear a mask at all times, and physically distance yourself from other spectators when able inside the arena. If you are feeling ill or experiencing any symptoms, we ask that you stay home and refrain from attending the game.
The first 300 people will be allowed access into the building on a first come, first serve basis, with the regular prices of $15 for adults, $10 for students aged 7-15, and free for children six and under. If you have any questions, please contact the Pistons office by emailing [email protected].