It was a solid road win for Steinbach, as all four lines were rolling in a 5-0 Pistons win over the Winkler Flyers Saturday night.
Matt Lenz picked up his third shutout of the season as he stopped all 25 Winkler shots. Flyers goalie Riley Morgan made 27 saves in the loss.
The Pistons got off to a slower start, but picked up the pace in the back half of the opening period. They took the lead on a fortunate goal in the dying seconds as Tristan Culleton’s point shot was blocked, but the puck fluttered high in the air and flew into the net. Doug Johnson picked up the lone assist on Culleton’s 3rdof the season.
Steinbach controlled play for much of the second period, although the Flyers outshot them 9-8 in the period. Towards the end of the middle frame, Boedey Vaeth threw a sharp angle shot that got through Morgan and in for a 2-0 Pistons lead. Tyson McConnell had the assist on Vaeth’s 16thon the campaign with 2:31 left in the second period.
The men in grey came out flying in the final frame, and put their stamp on the game with their speed through the neutral zone, and a grinder mentality in the offensive zone.
A minute and a half into the third, Brendan Martin chipped the puck to Nico Labossiere on a rush. Labossiere lost the puck near the net, but the puck landed on the tape of Kyle Bettens for his 8thof the season, fourth goal in his past three games, and a 3-0 Pistons lead.
Then it was Martin’s turn to get on the goal train, as he walked out of the corner and roofed a heavy wrister for a four goal Steinbach lead. Culleton had the only assist on Martin’s 28thgoal of the season.
McConnell capped the scoring for Steinbach with a 5-on-3 power play goal, as he buried a rebound home for a 5-0 lead halfway through the third. Troy Williams and Bettens had the helpers on the captain’s 19thof the season. That goal ties a career-high for McConnell, who had 19 goals a season ago.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Pistons were 1 for 7 on the power play, while the Flyers were 0 for 4.
UP NEXT: Steinbach returns to home ice on Wednesday against the Neepawa Natives at 7:30 pm. Catch the action live on HockeyTV.