Content Provided By: Steinbach Online
The MJHL’s leading scorer Connor Paronuzzi had three assists in Steinbach’s 11-1 win over the Winnipeg Freeze, giving the 19-year-old 60 helpers on the season, a new Pistons record.
Things started slowly for Steinbach as they had a couple of chances but also were playing fast and loose with the concept of puck control.
A couple of turnovers in their own zone allowed the Freeze to keep some plays alive but they couldn’t do much with it and the game remained scoreless.
Just before the midway point of the period, Steinbach opened the scoring and with it, opened the floodgates.
Battling in the offensive zone, the Pistons line of Mathis Laplante, Brody Green and Ryan McDonald went to work and produced the 1-0 marker when McDonald knocked home his 12th of the year. Green and Laplante were given the assists.
Less than two minutes later, Steinbach had the Freeze running around in their own zone and with it, kept the puck away from them, working it around until Reece Gault got a puck at the point and fired a shot through traffic, making it 2-0. Gault’s 5th of the season was assisted by Paronuzzi and Spence Penner.
In the final seconds of the period, a net-front battle produced the 3-0 goal as Jamie Fuchs knocked home a loose puck for his 21st of the season. Sam Noad and Gault were given the assists on the final goal of the period.
The opening minute of the second saw Brayden Berg working incredibly hard below the goal line, winning his battle and putting the puck out front to a waiting Ty Paisley, who buried his 7th of the season to make it 4-0. Brett Kaiser picked up the bonus assist.
River Leslie-Toogood got the start for Steinbach and while he wasn’t overly busy in the opening period, he came up huge in the second, stopping a pair of breakaways by the Freeze.
Fuchs would pick up his second of the night on a power play with under five minutes played in the frame. Paronuzzi and Noad collected the helpers on the 5-0 goal.
Brody Green would make it 6-0 with his 17th of the season, finishing off a great stretch pass from Cale Quamme.
McDonald’s second of the game pushed the lead to 7-0 as a puck was fired out of the corner by Laplante and somehow deflected in. For the 18-year-old McDonald, it gives him 13 on the season.
Laplante added his 19th of the year as the Freeze turned a puck over inside their own blueline and the sniper was allowed to walk in, pick his spot and uncork that wicked wrister. The unassisted goal made it 8-0.
Sam Zagari made it 9-0 as the 20-year-old scored his 14th of the year, cleaning up another loose puck in the Freeze crease. Quamme and Shane Burns were given credit for the assists.
After putting 59 shots on goal and scoring 9 times, the Freeze made a goalie switch to start the third.
Winnipeg broke the shutout, scoring to cut the lead to 9-1.
Brody Green scored his second of the game, banking it off the goaltender from behind the net and in for his 18th. Luke Bogart picked up the lone assist, 10-1 Steinbach.
The 11th and final goal would bring a new Pistons record.
Paronuzzi set up Zagari for his second of the game and with it, passed Dan Taillefer for the most assists in a single season with 60. Zagari’s second of the game gives him 15 on the campaign. Matt Munro also picked up an assist on the final goal of the game.
Leslie-Toogood notched his second win as a Piston, making16 saves.
Steinbach’s power play was 1-4 while the penalty kill was 4-4.
Throughout the entire game, Steinbach piled up the chances and for the first time, the Pistons ended a game with 80 shots on net.
Saturday will feature an afternoon game between Steinbach and Winkler, with puck drop set for 3:30 PM
Records Broken
There were several records set on Friday night.
Most goals in a road game: 11
Most shots in a single game at 80 (previous record was 79, and 67 for a road game).
Tied a record by scoring 6 goals in a period, putting 28 shots in a single period for a road game.
9 even strength goals in a road game and largest margin of victory in a road game with 10 goals the difference.