The Steinbach Pistons came out on top by a score of 6-4 over the Niverville Nighthawks and their home and season opener Friday evening.
Steinbach opened the scoring just over 3-minutes into the game with a sweet goal from Ian Amsbaugh. Amsbaugh waited out Nighthawks goaltender Christopher Fines and then tucked it in to put the Pistons up 1-0.
Offense was limited in the first period with Steinbach entering the first intermission with a 1-0 lead and outshot the Nighthawks 13-9.
Steinbach opened the scoring wide open in the middle of the second period, scoring 3 goals in just over a minute. Ian Amsbaugh got his second of the game off a one timer from Leo Chambers putting it top corner. Ty Paisley then scored 10-seconds later off a cross crease pass from Travis Hensrud. And then Nick Mikan capped off the three goals 52 seconds later as he got the puck off the faceoff and scored on a wraparound.
Niverville would claw their way back scoring two goals in the final 6-minutes of the second period making it 4-2, which would be the score going into the second intermission.
Steinbach got back into the goal column at the 4:34 mark of the third period as Davis Fry put one past Christopher Fines with Spencer Penner and Ty Paisley getting the assists.
Nate Goodbrandson made 6-2 3-minutes later as he scored from a sharp angle putting it short side over the glove.
Niverville brought it to within two as they scored two quick goals in the third from Brendan Kerr and Gavin Gunderson.
Niverville pulled their goalie with a minute and a half left in the game. Steinbach got close many times to scoring in the empty net, but Niverville stood tall in their own end, blocking everything that was put on net.
Steinbach came out on top 6-4 with the shot totals 38-29 for the Pistons.