FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYLs6n1W1Jk
The Steinbach Pistons beat the Swan Valley Stampeders by a score of 5-4 in double OT in game 1 at the TG Smith Centre Friday evening.
The Stampeders opened the scoring just under five minutes into the first period. Justin Keck pounced on an errant Pistons breakout pass in the offensive zone and ripped it blocker side past Dominik Wasik to make it 1-0.
At the 12:36 mark of the first period Steinbach would tie the game up with a powerplay goal. The Pistons kept the puck on the offensive zone with Paisley getting the puck behind the Stampeders defence, going through the legs and sneaking it past Kobe Grant to make it 1-1.
Just under four minutes later the Pistons would take their first lead of the game. Langley Kruggel shot from the point with Davis Fry tipping it in the high slot and past Grant to make it 2-1.
Steinbach would continue to dominate in the second half of the first period, making it 3-1 a minute later. The Pistons tried to get the puck on net with it getting blocked in traffic, but Noah Szabo jumped on the loose puck in the slot and wired it top corner.
Just over a minute into the second period Swan Valley would get a shorthanded marker. A misplay at the blueline by the Pistons resulted in the Stampeders getting a two on one with Wasik making the original save but Jakob Jones put the rebound home to make it 3-2.
The Stampeders would tie the game up at the 7:27 mark of the second period. Justin Keck on the rush found a trailing Collin Jennings in the high slot with no Piston player on him and he put it past Wasik to make it 3-3.
The Pistons established good zone time in the second period but struggled to shut down the Stampeders on the rush, resulting in a tie game heading into the second intermission.
The Stampeders would continue their strong play, restoring their lead early in the third period. Adam Rajsigl crashed the crease and potted the puck past Wasik to make the score 4-3.
Steinbach would battle trying to find that tying goal. With just under two minutes remaining the Pistons would take a timeout and pull their goalie to get the extra attacker. The Pistons won the offensive draw with Paisley getting the puck to the point. Davis Fry put it on net with Kirk Mullen tipping it perfectly past Grant to tie the game up 4-4 late in the third period.
The Pistons would almost go down and score again to take the lead, but the puck would go a little wide and regulation would come to an end with a 4-4 tie.
The first overtime period would see some back and forth play but no team could really generate much. Both teams were struggling with the chewed-up ice and settling the puck, resulting in some turnovers and failed scoring attempts.
Ty Paisley would be the overtime hero in double OT. Paisley picked the pocket of Collin Jennings at the blue line, springing a two on one for Steinbach. Paisley and Milliken attacked the offensive zone with Rajsigl covering the pass but Paisley placed the puck perfect short side on Grant securing the game 1 double overtime victory.