Much like their first meeting of the season, the Blues were led by the performance of goaltender Jeremy Link as Winnipeg was heavily outshot but came away with a 4-2 win Friday night over the Steinbach Pistons.
The Pistons fired fifty shots on goal at the net of Link, who made 48 saves for the win. Matt Radomsky returned for the Pistons between the pipes, and was solid making 22 saves in his first game back after the World Junior A Challenge.
The Blues picked up the first goal of the game 5:03 in, as Ty Naaykens netted his 5thof the season from Jayson Szun and it was 1-0 Winnipeg.
The Pistons started firing shots on goal as they reached twenty shots on goal in the frame. It was the last shot of the period that went in as Troy Williams threw it past Link from the blue line to tie it up with 13 seconds left in the period. Tanner Mole and Tyson McConnell had the assists on Williams’ 5thgoal of the season.
Steinbach dominated the second period, as they outshot Winnipeg 19-6 in the middle frame. But it was the Blues who scored as Coby Stauss beat Radomsky with a power play goal at the 4:23 mark of the second period.
The Pistons thought they had tied it late, as Max Neill deflected a point shot past Link. But the officials waved off the goal deeming that Neill made contact with a high stick. The Blues led 2-1 after forty minutes of play.
The third period was a penalty filled affair in which the Pistons were short-handed for much of it. Stauss notched his second of the game from Kelton Sutherland and Ty Naaykens at the 8:23 mark of the third period.
The Pistons finally got back to even strength late in the period and mounted one last push. With Radomsky on the bench for the extra attacker, Tanner Mole buried home a rebound in the crease to cut the Winnipeg lead to 3-2. Brendan Westbrook had the assist on Mole’s 15thgoal of the season.
But Nathan Adrian sealed the deal for the Blues as his empty net goal with fifty seconds left allowed Winnipeg to come away with the two points and a 4-2 win.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Pistons were 1 for 5 on the power play, while the Blues went 2 for 5.
UP NEXT: Steinbach will close out 2018 tomorrow night, as the Selkirk Steelers come to the TG Smith Centre for a 7:30 pm matchup.