Carter Loney scored with 7.9 seconds left in overtime to lift the Steinbach Pistons past the Selkirk Steelers 3-2 on Miller Day in Steinbach.
Down 2-0 in the first period the Pistons dug deep and outplayed the Steelers for much of the game. Dante Giannuzzi made his first start in goal for the Pistons, and he was excellent with 30 saves for his first win in Steinbach. Levi Mitchell stonewalled Steinbach yet again for the Steelers, but takes the loss with 48 saves.
The Pistons celebrated Steinbach minor hockey tonight as many current and former Miller players were in the building to take in the game. It didn’t start out so good for the Pistons as Blake Burr beat Giannuzzi at the side of the goal to make it 1-0 Selkirk seven minutes in.
The Steelers would double their lead as the Pistons goaltender got all twisted up in his crease, while Colby Jaquet jumped in from the point and put the puck in the open cage for a 2-0 Selkirk lead with six minutes to go in the first.
Steinbach would start their climb back from that point and struck late in the first period as Ty Naaykens found Zach Purcell in front, and the Denver native tapped his 4th of the year through the legs of Mitchell with 1:35 left.
The second period belonged to the Pistons as they tilted the ice with tons of chances, with the two best looks coming from Rylan Clemons. The Detroit product has been a bit snake-bitten this season, and just couldn’t do enough to beat the Steelers goalie.
Steinbach would strike on the power play as Dylan Cassie wired one high of the glass, and the rebound found the tape of Codey Behun. The Pistons’ leading goal scorer made no mistake, burying the rebound for his 8th goal of the season from Cassie and Curtis Ireland with under six to go in the second period.
The third period was a defensive battle as neither side got a quality look in the final regulation period. The final frame flew by, and the Pistons went to their third consecutive overtime on home ice.
Steinbach was awarded a PP but couldn’t cash in. But just after the penalized Steeler stepped onto the ice, Carter Loney received the puck in the slot and the UMD commit made a nice move around a Steeler defenceman on the backhand and beat Mitchell to give the Pistons the extra point in a hard-fought 3-2 win.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Pistons went 1 for 3 with the man advantage and killed off all four penalties they faced.
UP NEXT: The Pistons are back on home ice Wednesday night as they entertain the Neepawa Natives at 7:30 pm. Get your tickets for that game online at Steinbachpistons.ca/tickets.