Nolan Dawson scored the winner 1:35 into overtime as the OCN Blizzard won their first game of the season with a 2-1 extra time victory over the Steinbach Pistons.
Noah Giesbrecht was solid once again for the Blizzard in goal, making 43 saves in the win. Matt Lenz got his second start of the season in goal for Steinbach, and stopped 31 of 33 OCN shots in the loss.
The Pistons got off to what they thought was a good start, as OCN took a penalty early in the opening frame. However, Evan Herman scored short-handed on a breakaway past the blocker of Lenz to make it 1-0 for the Blizzard. Tony Apetagon picked up the lone assist on Herman’s 1st of the season 6:02 into the opening frame.
Steinbach started to pump pucks onto the Blizzard goal, putting 30 shots on goal in the first two periods. Only one found the back of the net, as Boedey Vaeth went in on a short-handed rush of his own and slipped the puck through the five-hole of Giesbrecht to equalize. David Queree picked up the assist on Vaeth’s 3rd goal of the season at the 13:21 mark of the second.
The Pistons had three power play opportunities in the third period, but could not capitalize and did not get a quality chance on Giesbrecht on those man advantages. The Pistons and Blizzard headed to their first overtime game of the year.
After Brendan Martin missed Brady Tatro on a 2-on-1, Nolan Dawson went back the other way for OCN and snapped one past Lenz top-shelf to give the Blizzard their first win of the 2018-19 season. The Pistons leave with 3 of a possible 4 points from OCN.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The power play was a real let down for both sides, with both teams giving up one short handed goal. Steinbach went 0 for 5 on the PP, while OCN went 0 for 6.
UP NEXT: Steinbach heads to Swan River tomorrow to face the potent Swan Valley Stampeders, with puck drop scheduled for 6:00 pm. Catch the game live on HockeyTV, or listen on your radio on MIX 96 and Steinbachonline.com. Pre-game show begins at 5:45 pm.