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Despite giving up a late goal to tie the game, the Steinbach Pistons stuck with their plan and eventually pulled out a 4-3 overtime win thanks to big saves by Christian Green and an elite shot by Ty Paisley.
In the opening minutes, Steinbach was quick to pucks, strong along the boards and controlled play but a pair of penalties but the Pistons down 5 on 3.
During that shorthanded work, Noah Szabo was working along the boards in the defensive zone when he was clipped by a high stick from a Kings forward. The play continued and the Kings eventually scored to grab a 1-0 lead.
Even though Szabo was clearly cut and bleeding, the officials determined, after a brief conversation, that there would be no penalty to Dauphin on the play and that the goal would stand.
The penalty killers held the fort and got the game back to 5 on 5 with the Kings still leading 1-0.
On a power play of their own, Steinbach worked the puck around the offensive zone with quick passes, keeping the Kings defenders and goaltender guessing. Szabo worked the puck to the half wall for Ty Paisley, who hit Brett Kaiser in the middle with a pass. Kaiser quickly dished it back to Paisley who wired home his 2nd of the year to knot the game 1-1.
Brody Green would put the Pistons out in front after a terrific heads up play from behind the net, grabbing a loose puck and banking it off the back of the Dauphin goaltender and in for his 8th of the year. Reece Gault and Szabo were given the assists.
In the second, Steinbach got away from their game plan a bit and it allowed the Kings to hang around and build some momentum.
The home side managed to tie the game with less than 8 minutes remaining in the period and that’s how the game went into the intermission.
Dauphin looked as though they were going to take the lead early in the third but Christian Green came up with a sensational save, absolutely robbing a Kings forward who was alone in the slot for a point blank chance, but the 20-year-old goalie calmly shut the door, keeping it 2-2.
Jamie Fuchs would reward his goalie with the go-ahead goal a short time later as the power forward crashed the net and knocked home his 5th of the season, giving Steinbach the lead again, this time 3-2. Aaron Krestanowich and Sam Noad had the helpers.
In the final seconds of regulation and with the net empty, Dauphin executed a perfect offensive zone play that resulted in them scoring to push the game into overtime.
Again, early in the extra period, Christian Green was called on to make a big save as he brushed aside a glorious chance to keep things even.
Paisley would end the game as the 20-year-old burst into the zone and uncorked a perfect, pin point laser of a shot that clanked off the inside of the post and in for his 2nd of the game and third of the season, giving Steinbach a 4-3 win.
Szabo factored in again as the captain collected his third assist of the night and Christian Green, on top of his solid work in the crease, was also given an assist on the Paisley game winner.
For Green, it was his 10th win of the season after making 30 saves, several of them at key times, doing his part for the team to get the win.
Steinbach’s power play was 1-5 while the penalty kill was 4-5.
The Pistons continue their weekend road trip with a game against the Waywayseecappo Wolverines on Saturday night.