The Steinbach Pistons beat the Niverville Nighthawks by a score of 5-3 Saturday evening at the TG Smith Centre.
The first period did not see any scoring but both teams’ penalty kills got to work. Both teams went 1/1 on the penalty kill in the first period, quashing all scoring chances and zone entries for the opposing team.
Niverville opened the scoring just under 2-minutes into the second period. Carter Spirig entered the offense zone on a partial two on one and slipped it through the five hole of Cole Plowman to make it 1-0.
Just under 2-minutes later Niverville extended their lead to 2-0. Josh Paulhus got the puck to Evan Bortis at the point who took a few strides towards the net and squeaked it through Plowman’s five hole and into the back of the net.
Steinbach would get it back to with one goal at the 5:34 mark of the second period. Ian Amsbaugh got the puck to Noah Szabo at the point who floated the puck on net, getting it past a screened Chris Fines to make it 2-1.
Steinbach would tie it up at 2 goals apiece with just under 4-minutes remaining in the second period. Noah Szabo put a puck on net with Neo Kiemeney finding the loose puck and potting it past Chris Fines.
With just over 2-minutes remaining in the second period Landon Roberts steam rolled Luke Schaeffer and drew a roughing penalty, which was unfortunate timing as the play was blown dead with the Pistons about to be on a breakaway. The Pistons were already on the powerplay at the time of the hit, so they were given a prime opportunity to take the lead on a 5 on 3 powerplay.
Niverville would lock it down however and kill off both of the penalties to go into the second intermission tied 2-2.
Niverville would come out firing once again at the start of a period, scoring just over a minute into the final frame to make it 3-2. The Pistons weren’t able to clear the zone with Carson Reed keeping the puck in and finding Carter Spirig who potted his second goal of the game.
Steinbach would tie the game once again four and a half minutes later. A loose puck from behind the net got to Spencer Penner at the right faceoff dot who put it on net and got tipped in off a Nighthawks stick and past Fines to make it 3-3.
Steinbach took the lead, scoring at the 16:45 mark of the third period. Niverville was about to clear it out of their own zone with Ty Paisley sliding and poking it off the stick of the Nighthawk player right to Neo Kiemeney in the slot who put it blocker side to make it 4-3.
Niverville got close to tying it up with just over a minute remaining in the period. A scramble in the crease with everyone trying to whack at the puck almost went in the net but Plowman was able to find the puck and cover it.
Steinbach would put the nail in the coffin with Davis Fry getting the empty netter to secure the 5-3 win over the Nighthawks.