Content Provided By: Steinbach Online
For a second time this season, the Steinbach Pistons hit double digits against the Winnipeg Blues, destroying the MJHL basement dwellers 10-2 on Saturday night and with the victory, clinched a playoff spot.
Interesting notes before the game as the contest marked the return of Shane Burns to Steinbach while Connor Paronuzzi skated in his 100th game.
And what a 100th game it would be. In fact, it would be a record-setting 100th game for the popular second-year Piston.
It took a bit of time for the Pistons to start scoring, but when they did, they didn’t stop.
After killing off a double minor for high sticking, Paronuzzi stripped a Blues defender of the puck, walked in and scored unassisted to make it 1-0.
Later in the first, Sam Zagari jammed home his 9th of the season to make it a 2-0 game. Luke Bogart and Paronuzzi were given the assists on the goal.
Like Paronuzzi, Zagari was also gearing up for a massive night points-wise.
River Leslie-Toogood got the start against his former team and the netminder came up huge a few times throughout that opening period. He was given credit for 17 saves in the frame.
In the second, Steinbach took the game completely over.
Under two minutes in, Zagari took a bounce pass from Noah Szabo, walked in and put a backhander behind the Blues goalie for his second of the game and 10th of the season. Grady Hoffman was also given an assist on the goal, 3-0 Steinbach.
That lead would grow with Steinbach scoring three goals in the span of just over three minutes.
First, it was Brayden Berg on a power play as the 19-year-old cashed in on a rebound for his 15th, from Szabo and Paronuzzi.
Next, it was Ryan McDonald’s turn to celebrate as the 18-year-old fought his way to the front of the net and knocked home his 10th of the campaign Szabo and Reece Gault.
Finally, at least in this stretch of goals, it was Mathis Laplante outworking the Blues defenders in front of their own net as “Le Bon Garcon” bullied his way around and tucked home his 18th goal. Brody Green and McDonald picked up the assists.
That trio of Laplante, McDonald and Green were solid all night and while Green didn’t score, he was a physical presence, throwing his weight around and helping generate chances for his linemates.
When the dust settled after the second period, the scoreboard had a big 6 under the Pistons and 0 under the Blues
In the third, Winnipeg finally managed to solve Leslie-Toogood, scoring shorthanded to cut into the lead 6-1.
To say the Pistons responded is an understatement as again, a shotgun burst of offense produced three goals in under two minutes.
On another power play, Steinbach worked the puck around the offensive zone and came up with some glorious chances. Paronuzzi was the one to put the puck over the line as he notched his second of the game and 23rd of the year from Zagari and Szabo.
Zagari would complete his hat trick, scoring on yet another power play, his 11th of the year from Paronuzzi and Hoffman.
32 seconds later, Paronuzzi finished off his hat trick by scoring his 24th from Zagari and Hoffman.
Three quick goals put the Pistons up 9-1 with still half a period to play.
Down by over a touchdown, the frustration started to bubble for the Blues.
After a defender pushed Kaiser offside causing a whistle, the Winnipeg player slashed at Kaiser’s leg, getting his attention. The two would jaw at each other all the way from the blue line into the corner of the rink where Kaiser had finally had enough.
He dropped the gloves and went at it with the Blues defender, connecting on a couple of punches before the officials broke it up.
The bench rose to their feet to salute the effort of Kaiser, who may not be known as a fighter but did well in his first MJHL bout.
Even the players not dressed, Cole Cairns, Luc De Gagne, Cale Quamme and Spence Penner were all smiles and giving the thumbs up to the 19-year-old.
With a few minutes left, the Blues took a healthy run at Paronuzzi while in the offensive zone. Paronuzzi didn’t take kindly to that, so he took the puck and ripped home his 4th of the night to cap off the scoring 10-1. Like they did so many times during the game, Zagari and Hoffman picked up the assists.
Winnipeg would score one more time to make it 10-2 but the night belonged to Steinbach and the win, his first with the Pistons belonged to Leslie-Toogood.
The line of Paronuzzi, Zagari and Hoffman combined for 17 points. Throw in Szabo’s four assists and those four players put up an eye-popping 21 points all together.
For a second straight game, Steinbach’s power play found the back of the net three times, going 3-7 on the night. The penalty kill was a perfect 4-4. Shots were 66-32 Steinbach.