Jevon Peters found the back of the net twice for the Steinbach Pistons, but the Winkler Flyers edged Steinbach 5-4 in a shootout on Saturday night at Southeast Event Centre.
After a scoreless opening frame, Steinbach got itself on the board first 3:27 into the second period. Calum Brownlee skated around the Winkler net and set up Peters inside the right circle for a quick one-timer that beat Flyers goaltender Jackson Dunn.
Just 23 seconds later, Peters put home his second of the game before his first goal was even done being announced. Peters chipped the puck past a Winkler defenceman on his backhand before racing in alone and firing it past Dunn’s blocker.
Steinbach strengthened its lead to 3-0 just over six minutes into the frame courtesy of Quebec product Olivier Mathieu.
The Flyers got on the board less than a minute later to make it a two-goal contest. Crew Elder set up Caden McMahon with a perfect pass to beat goaltender Brady Shields.
Just past the halfway point of the matchup, Steinbach switched goaltenders as Kai Zurowski took over for Shields.
Winkler’s Ethan Walterson made it a one-goal game heading into the second intermission.
Carson Hiebert put on a show 8:40 into the final period, displaying some elite puck-handling skills to tie the game at 3-3.
A rather controversial goal from Lyndon Lamb put the Pistons back in front less than two minutes later, with the puck appearing to go in off a glove in front of the goal. Winkler complained, but the call stood, making it 4-3 for the home team.
Winkler didn’t go away, as Kam Thomas tied it back up for the visitors after being left all alone in front and beating Zurowski.
Steinbach had a great opportunity to score the go-ahead goal late in the contest as Hendrix Whittle was gifted a penalty shot, but he couldn’t beat Dunn.
With neither team finding the winner in overtime, the two clubs went to a shootout.
Hiebert and Bennett Scissons would strike twice, while Mathieu scored the lone goal for Steinbach in the shootout, as Winkler hung on to win 5-4.
Despite the loss, Peters was named the game’s First Star after his two-goal night in front of family.
“Pretty special memory for him, I’m sure,” said Pistons head coach Paul Dyck, speaking to Dave Anthony. “I thought the line was really good. They were one of the lines that generated a lot of offence for us.”
Steinbach will wrap up the preseason next weekend when they face the Niverville Nighthawks on Sept. 11 in La Salle before facing them the following night at SEC.
