The Dauphin Kings used a strong middle frame with goals by Riley Shamray and Avery Smith to beat the Steinbach Pistons 2-1 for the second consecutive night.
At one point Dauphin outshot Steinbach 29-13, but thanks to the play of Pistons goalie Matt Lenz, it could have much worse. The Grapevine, Texas native had 36 saves on the night and kept his team in it all night long. Kings starter Ethan Slobodzian picked up the win once again for the Kings with a 25 save performance.
After a neutral first period, the Kings took off in the second period as they outshot Steinbach 23-11 in the second period. Defenceman Riley Shamray gave Dauphin the lead as he outwaited Lenz at the side of the net, and tucked it in at the 6:57 mark for a 1-0 lead.
Dauphin made 2-0 on the power play with under six minutes to play, as Avery Smith beat Lenz to the blocker side on an odd man rush.
Steinbach grabbed some momentum back near the end of the second period on a power play of their own. Tyson McConnell came close with two grade A chances but was turned away by Slobodzian, but Easton Bennett put home the third rebound opportunity to cut Dauphin’s lead in half with 50 seconds left. McConnell and Bettens had the helpers on Bennett’s 10th of the season.
Some line juggling by Head Coach Paul Dyck didn’t do much to spark his team, but Lenz kept the Pistons in the game. But two penalties taken with under two and a half minutes to go killed Steinbach’s chance to come back, and the Kings skated away with a 2-1 victory.
INJURY UPDATE
Pistons defenceman Troy Williams left the game near the end of the first period with a lower body injury. He did not return to the game.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Pistons were 1 for 2 on the power play, while the Kings went 1 for 6 on their man advantages.
UP NEXT: Steinbach heads back to the TG Smith Centre for Family Day with the Pistons on Monday afternoon, as they welcome the Winkler Flyers to town for a 2:30 pm matchup. Catch the game live on HockeyTV.
Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck will perform the ceremonial puck drop before the game, and you will have the chance to skate with the Pistons out on the ice after the conclusion of the game! We’d love to see you out for Family Day with the Pistons!