After a thrilling, entertaining, electric game on Friday night, the Steinbach Pistons couldn’t follow it up, falling to the Selkirk Steelers 5-3 on Sunday afternoon.
First period
While Steinbach didn’t come out of the gate with much energy, credit where it is due, the Steelers showed up ready to play.
They controlled the pace, they moved pucks quickly, they limited Steinbach to almost zero high-quality chances, and forced errors, which they turned into odd man rushes, eventually earning a 2-0 lead, scoring twice just 25 seconds apart.
In the late stages, Steinbach finally started to show some life, but it was fleeting, and the teams went into the first intermission with Selkirk up 2-0.
Second period
After such a lacklustre opening period, Steinbach did manage to put a little jolt into the building, as they capitalized on a power play when Liam Doyle fired a point shot that managed to miss all the traffic in front, pulling Steinbach to within one, down 2-1. Zhenya Miles and Sam Noad were given the assists.
Unable to build on that momentum, Steinbach could only manage three shots on top of the one that found the back of the net throughout the rest of the period.
Selkirk put 9 towards Easton Thvedt, who responded with 9 saves, keeping his team in the fight, even after being run into several times in the game.
Even though it wasn’t the best hockey they’ve played this season, Steinbach was only down by one heading into the third.
Third period
Steinbach found a bit more of their game in the final frame and earned themselves the even-up marker.
Rory Gilmour showcased his elite shot once again, sniping the corner from quite the angle, and the 19-year-old celebrated the 2-2 goal, his 7th of the year, with William Picklyk and Doyle being given the assists.
There was a bit more energy flowing through the Southeast Event Centre following the goal, and spirits were lifted higher after Selkirk was given a penalty, putting Steinbach on the man-advantage.
Selkirk would ruin the party atmosphere, scoring shorthanded to regain their lead, 3-2.
The whistle would turn on Steinbach, and the Steelers would be given a golden opportunity to extend the lead, as Steinbach was assessed two penalties at the same time, putting Selkirk on a 5 on 3 for a full two minutes.
Steinbach dug deep and killed it off, thanks to some stellar defending and timely saves by Thvedt.
Just as it seemed Steinbach was building toward really threatening, another penalty was handed to them, and this time, Selkirk would not let the opportunity slip away, scoring to give themselves some breathing room at 4-2.
In the final minute, Grady Hoffman scored with the net empty to make it a 4-3 game, his 7th of the year from Miles and Noad.
But, with the net empty again, a Steelers defender broke up a pass, fired it down and hit the yawning cage, sealing a 5-3 win for the visitors.
Game notes
Steinbach has now lost their last two games at the Southeast Event Centre to Selkirk, as it was the Steelers that won their last meeting in Steinbach in a shootout.
Thvedt’s 31 saves came in his second loss of the season. Steinbach was outshot 36-28 in the game, with 15 of those shots coming in the third period.
Steinbach’s power play was 1-4 while the penalty kill was sharp right up until the end, going 6-7.
With their loss and a Portage Terrier win on Sunday, the Pistons have slipped to third place in the MJHL’s MGEU East Division.
Up next
For the final time in the regular season, the Winnipeg Monarchs come to Steinbach on Wednesday night.
Article provided by Steinbachonline.com – Photo provided by Scott Stroh Ice Wave Media
