Matt Lenz made all 20 saves for his first shutout of the season as the Steinbach Pistons capped off the year and rang in 2020 with a 3-0 win over the Winnipeg Blues.
Troy Beauchemin, Rylan Bettens, and Tanner Mole did the goal scoring on the night for Steinbach. Blues goalie Cooper Hatfield was excellent in the visiting goal, stopping 47 of 50 shots that the Pistons threw on him.
The Pistons were determined to get even with Winnipeg after the Blues sent them into the holiday break with a 4-1 loss. Steinbach came out and thoroughly controlled the first period, outshooting Winnipeg 25-4 in the frame. Ty Naaykens and Codey Behun both came the closest but both of their chances rang square off the post.
It took until 6:37 remaining in the second for the Pistons to finally get on the board. Jack Kilroy, who was also playing in his first game back from injury, sprung a 2-on-1 rush for his linemates. Kasyn Kruse’s shot was stopped by Hatfield but Troy Beauchemin pounced on the rebound and buried his 5th goal of the season for a 1-0 Steinbach lead.
The home side would double their lead two minutes later on a deflection by Rylan Bettens to make it 2-0 Pistons with 4:28 to go. Curtis Ireland and Bryce Young nabbed the helpers the power play goal and Bettens’ 10th of the season.
Steinbach played great defense all night which made things easy for Lenz to see all 20 shots come his way. The Pistons would ice the game on the power play, as Tanner Mole rushed up the left wing and beat Hatfield underneath the glove for a 3-0 lead with 3:40 to play. Dylan Cassie and Declan Graham picked up the apples on Mole’s 8th on the campaign, which would end up as the final Pistons goal of 2019 and the decade.
The boys in white and blue cruised from there to pick up the two points, and as a result regained a two-point lead over the Terriers in the MJHL standings.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Pistons went 2 for 6 on the power play and killed off all two man advantages they faced on the night.
UP NEXT: The first game of 2020 for Steinbach will be on the road as they meet the Blues for the third straight game. Puck drop will be at 7:30 pm, catch the game live on HockeyTV.