Levi Mitchell stopped 48 of 49 Pistons shots to lead the Selkirk Steelers past Steinbach 4-1 Monday afternoon at the 2019 MJHL Showcase.
Steelers forward Tanner Pochipinski led the way with a goal and two assists. Nik Anderson made his debut with Steinbach in net this afternoon and made 26 saves, but was tagged with the loss.
Selkirk got on the board first, as Caiden Gault notched his second of the season on the power play halfway through the first to give them a 1-0 lead.
It was the second period that was Steinbach’s undoing as they allowed a goal of each variety. First, a nice pass by Pochipinski out in front found Keenan Allen for an even strength marker at the 13 minute mark to make it 2-0.
On a Pistons power play, a miscue at the blue line allowed a breakaway for Pochipinski, and the Selkirk forward buried a shorthanded goal past the blocker of Anderson to make it 3-0. After Max Neill took a checking from behind penalty that resulted in a game misconduct, Eric Krywy had the puck bounced to him on the open side and he made no mistake on the man advantage for a 4-0 Selkirk lead.
Steinbach showed some fight in the third period and got on the board, as Zach Purcell finally solved Mitchell for his first MJHL goal with 9:30 to go in the game. Kyle Bettens and Carter Loney picked up the helpers on the Purcell marker.
The Pistons would head to a double-minor, four-minute power play late in the third period. However they could not find a way past Mitchell and the Steelers, who walked away with a 4-1 victory at the Seven Oaks Sportsplex.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Special teams play once again plagued the Steinbach Pistons, who went 0 for 6 with the man advantage and gave up two goals on three kills.
UP NEXT: The Pistons will play once again at 12:00 noon tomorrow afternoon when they take on the Waywayseecappo Wolverines. Catch the game live at the Seven Oaks Sportsplex on HockeyTV.