Matthias Dal Monte notched two goals and an assist as the Swan Valley Stampeders used four power play goals to defeat the Steinbach Pistons 5-2 Friday night at the TG Smith.
It was an undisciplined night for the Pistons, taking 11 minor penalties overall in the contest. Stampeders goalie Mikael Foucher picked up the win with 27 saves on the night, while Pistons netminder Dante Giannuzzi stopped 29 of 34 Stampeder shots in the loss.
Steinbach would get on the board first five minutes into the game on a Bryce Young pass towards Ty Naaykens, and Naaykens would beat Foucher five-hole and just sneak it over the line for his 11th of the season.
Swan Valley would equalize on a 5-on-3 PP as Dal Monte beat Giannuzzi from the top with just over six minutes to go in the first period.
The second period began with two straight Steinbach penalties, and the Stampeders capitalized on both. Leyson Coleman tipped a Dal Monte point shot past the Pistons goalie for a 2-1 Swan advantage 57 second into the middle frame. And then Dal Monte would pick the corner as Giannuzzi was screened in front for his second of the game three minutes later.
The Stampeders took a 4-1 lead 2:57 into the third as Daunte Fortner wrapped around the goal and beat Giannuzzi on his backhand. Steinbach would climb to within a pair on a power play of their own on a one-time goal by Bryce Young. Naaykens picked up the assist on Young’s 4th of the season at the 6:28 mark.
But Swan Valley iced the game with another power play goal off the rush, as Frazer Dodd tipped a Tommy Cardinal pass by Giannuzzi to make it 5-2 with under 12 to go in the third.
The Pistons lost their cool in the third period and took 7 minors in the third period. Max Neill gave the crowd something to cheer about as he dropped the gloves with Matthias Dal Monte with eight minutes left in the third period. Swan Valley would get the last laugh as they skate away with a win in the first game of a weekend set.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Pistons went 1 for 4 on the power play, while the Stampeders connected 4 times on 11 power plays on the night.
UP NEXT: These two teams will lock up again tomorrow night at the TG Smith Centre, with puck drop scheduled for 7:30 pm. There will be a special announcement during the first period, in regards to the Summer in the City festival in June. Get your tickets at Steinbachpistons.ca/tickets.