Carter Loney’s third period spark wasn’t enough for a comeback, as the Waywayseecappo Wolverines beat the Steinbach Pistons 4-2 Friday night at the TG Smith Centre.
Coming off of a lackluster performance in a 3-0 loss on Wednesday night, Steinbach showed better effort for stretches but still lacked the consistency that Head Coach Paul Dyck would like. The Pistons have now lost three straight on home ice.
MJHL minutes leader Isaac Labelle stopped 33 of 35 shots in the Wayway win, while Matt Lenz got the start for Steinbach and made 20 saves in the loss.
The Wolverines got off to a quick start as Preston Seymour made it 1-0 at the 3:29 mark from Dylan Soosay and Austin Cardinal. Then they grabbed a quick two goal lead as Anthony Bilka nabbed his 6thof the season from Bryce Krauter and Kyler Fenton halfway through the first period.
The Pistons picked up the pace in the second, and put the pressure on Labelle and the Wolverines defence. But the goalless drought continued, and while on a power play Declan Graham and Curtis Ireland got their signals crossed at the blue line. Wayway forward Conrad Phillips went in all alone and beat Lenz to the glove side for a shorthanded goal with 1:04 left in the second period, and it was 3-0 Wolverines after 40 minutes.
Jack Kennedy scored on the power play halfway through the third period to make it a seemingly insurmountable 4-0 lead.
However, things would get interesting thanks to the call-up Loney. The RHA Midget Prep member, who was one of the Pistons’ best forwards all night, tipped in an Easton Bennett point shot on the power play with 6:39 left to play. Troy Williams picked up the extra assist on Loney’s 2nd of the season.
Then seventeen seconds later, Loney scored again from the slot and brought the TG Smith Centre crowd back to life. Kyle Bettens and Nico Labossiere picked up the helpers on the Loney marker, and it was 4-2 Wolverines.
Steinbach pushed hard in the third, but it wasn’t to be as Wayway picked up the two points with a 4-2 win.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Both teams went 1 for 6 on the power play.
UP NEXT: The Winnipeg Blues come into town for a 7:30 pm matchup. Catch the game live on HockeyTV.