FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFVtygWjjmo
The Steinbach Pistons beat the Virden Oil Capitals by a score of 4-0 Saturday night at the TG Smith Centre in game 1 of the MJHL finals.
Neither team found the back of the net in the first period, but both teams had some good chances off the rush. Virden gave up some juicy giveaways throughout the first period, but the Pistons could not capitalize on the chances.
Virden got a powerplay early in the first period off a Kirk Mullen trip. Dominik Wasik made a beautiful glove save with the puck coming out front off the boards behind the net and Wasik stoning Roux Bazin to keep the game tied 0-0.
The Pistons would open the scoring at the 5:20 mark of the second period. Ty Paisley at the side of the net found Noah Szabo creeping in at the right faceoff dot who one timed it on net and past LaRocque to make it 1-0.
Steinbach would extend their lead just past the middle part of the second period. Ty Paisley tried to wrap the puck around the net, getting hooked as he did it with the puck going right to Dawson Milliken in the slot who shot it top corner to make it 2-0.
With just over four minutes remaining in the second period, Landon Roberts would get a questionable call for kneeing and the Pistons would go to the penalty kill for four minutes.
A minute into the penalty kill, Szabo would make a key block at the point with Davin Griffin picking up the loose puck and getting a breakaway. Griffin got some space between him and the Virden defenceman and slid the puck five hole to put the Pistons up 3-0.
The Pistons would close out the scoring at the 6:37 mark of the third period. A Virden defender took out their own goalie with Leo Chambers cycling the puck at the point to Noah Szabo who then wired it on net just as LaRocque got his bearings again, putting it top corner to make it 4-0.
Midway through the third period the Pistons would get their own 4-minute powerplay for a Virden kneeing penalty, but they would not be able to capitalize on the opportunity.
The Pistons would go on to close out the game 4-0 and go up 1-0 in the MJHL finals over the Virden Oil Capitals.