The ’01-’03 Pistons rookies defeated the ’01-’03 Winnipeg Blues rookies 6-5 to open the 2018-19 exhibition schedule Tuesday night.
’01 forward Brayden Clark notched two goals on the night, and ’02 forward Logan Danis contributed three assists to lead the scoring for Steinbach. Cole Oswald made 21 saves as he played all 60 minutes for the Pistons in goal.
The Blues got off to an early 1-0 lead, as Ethan Sobkowich scored 2:42 in on the PP for Winnipeg. Clark responded for Steinbach just 26 seconds later, with Danis picking up the lone assist. Carter Loney gave the Pistons the lead at the 7:31 mark, with Connor Tyhy and 2018 1st round pick Ethan Johnson grabbing assists on the play.
Another 2018 Pistons draft pick Taggart Plouffe scored the 3rd goal of the first period for Steinbach with 5:39 left in period 1, with Danis and Ethan Clements drawing the helpers. And 2017 Pistons draft pick Carter Bateman capped a four goal period for Steinbach, as his shot from the point got past Blues goalie Dominic Jacobson. Loney drew the lone apple, giving him two points on the night.
The Blues scored the lone marker in the second period, as Luc Benedictson scored in the slot after a Pistons turnover 6:04 into the middle frame to make it 4-2.
Kieran Thiessen scored 22 seconds into the third period, making it 5-2 for Steinbach. And Clark notched his second goal from Danis with 1:16 left in the third to cap the scoring for the Pistons rookies. The Blues got goals from Ryan Ostermann at the 7:58 mark, and two goals in the last 25 seconds of the final frame from Nathan Stewart and Jackson Klewchuk, but the Pistons held on in the end.
NEXT GAME: Rookie Camp has ended, and the second day of Main Camp is happening today with an intra-squad scrimmage taking place today in the afternoon at 3:00 pm. The Pistons will face the Winkler Flyers in a home and home exhibition series this Friday and Saturday, with the first game coming at the TG Smith Centre at 7:30 pm.