Content Provided By: Steinbach Online
The Steinbach Pistons scored a pair of goals in the third then locked the game down, eventually winning 6-4 on Friday night.
The contest marked the final game for the Pistons at the HyLife Centre in La Broquerie.
Before the game, the staff of the HyLife Centre was brought onto the ice and saluted for all they’ve done to help the Pistons while they’ve made their home there. Jim Ross and his crew were fantastic throughout the tenure and got a nice cheer from the crowd as well as a salute from the players.
When the puck dropped, the Pistons came out a little stronger than they did the night before, but still struggled to move pucks up ice or find time and space to work.
They did manage to get on the board first, capitalizing on a power play.
Grady Hoffman started the play off by keeping a puck in the zone and filtering a pass down to Brett Kaiser. Kaiser waited and then sent a perfect pass over to Mathis Laplante, and while he was stopped on his first shot, he stick with it and scored on the second whack, giving Steinbach a 1-0 lead.
For Laplante, it marks his 20th goal of the campaign.
The Blizzard responded a few minutes later and then grabbed a lead on a power play of their own with under half a minute to go in the first.
In the second, the Blizzard scored again to bring their lead to 3-1.
Great work off a faceoff, Brayden Barnett put a puck on goal that hit off Jamie Fuchs, cutting the lead to 3-2. Fuchs now has 23 goals on the season. Sam Noad picked up the bonus assist.
MJHL MVP Connor Paronuzzi tied the game as the dynamic sniper walked into the offensive zone and ripped a perfect shot home for his 28th of the season, knotting the game 3-3.
Paronuzzi extended his point streak to 18-games. Kaiser and Hoffman were given credit for the assists, both pocketing their second points of the game.
A Noad deflection gave Steinbach the 4-3 lead, as the hard-working forward fought his way to the front of the net and tipped a Shane Burns point shot past the Blizzard keeper. Ryan McDonald nabbed the secondary assist.
Refusing to go away, the Blizzard tied the game on their second power play of the night, 4-4.
It’s the 5th power play goal given up by Steinbach in their last two games.
The final period tie was broken by 20-year-old defender Matt Munro, who took a great pass from Fuchs, walked in and while his first shot was blocked, he stuck with it and potted the rebound, restoring Steinbach’s lead, 5-4.
Munro’s second as a Piston was also assisted by Barnett, who notched his second point of the game.
A tic-tac-toe goal sealed things for the home side.
Laplante started it off rushing he puck up the ice before dishing it over to Ty Paisley. Paisley quickly chipped a pass to McDonald who knocked home his 14th, making it 6-4.
Steinbach locked things down after taking the lead, allowing only 2 shots in the period.
The horn sounded and the Pistons saluted their fans, the staff and the HyLife Centre one final time.
Christian Green was solid, making 23 saves for his 32nd win.
Steinbach’s power play was 1-1, while their penalty kill was 0-2.
The Pistons have a road game on Tuesday before they open the doors to their new home, the Southeast Event Centre, Friday, March 14th.