The Steinbach Pistons and Dauphin Kings traded goals, swapped the lead several times, and when the dust settled, it was the Pistons celebrating an 8-6 victory at the Southeast Event Centre.
First period
After three straight losses, the Pistons were challenged to start on time. Head Coach Paul Dyck trotted out all-new line combinations, and the moves seemed to provide the desired jolt, as everyone up and down the lineup was dialled in from the start.
Jack Greenwell got the scoring parade started as the 20-year-old went to the front of the net while on a power play, and deflected a Zhenya Miles point shot for his 10th goal of the season, giving Steinbach a much-needed 1-0 lead. Grady Hoffman also picked up an assist.
Throughout the period, Steinbach was on their toes, winning their battles, generating chances, and in general, the better team.
Their hard work was rewarded late in the frame when Ryan McDonald drove hard to the net and perfectly tipped a Miles pass home, giving him his 7th goal of the year, putting Steinbach up 2-0. Sam Noad picked up the secondary assist after completing a beauty bank pass, finding Miles, who then found McDonald.
Shots were 17-5 for Steinbach after the first, and they carried a 2-0 lead into intermission.
Second period
Things started to get wild in the middle frame, as the teams combined for six goals.
After failing on a power play, Dauphin cashed in shortly after the penalty expired, cutting the lead to 2-1.
Keeping that momentum, the Kings scored twice more, giving themselves their first lead at 3-2.
Hoffman would get the Pistons back to even as the 20-year-old sniper finished off a chance on another power play, unleashing a wicked wrister on a rebound, bringing the game to 3-3. Greenwell and Liam Doyle would be given the assists on Hoffman’s 2nd goal of the season.
The tie didn’t last, as just over a minute later, the Kings scored to restore their 4-3 lead.
Before the period came to an end, Brett Kaiser would score to once again bring the game to even. McDonald started the play off by making a great move in the offensive zone, sliding a pass over to Noad, who displayed elite patience waiting out the Kings’ netminder, then filtering the puck out in front, where Kaiser won a battle and dumped the puck into the open net.
Dauphin controlled things for long stretches, and it showed in the scoreboard, as they outshot Steinbach 19-9, but the score remained tied 4-4.
Third period
With under two minutes played in the final frame, the Pistons would get the lead off a wraparound by Evan Gradt, who used every bit of his reach to sneak one through the sprawling goalie for his 7th, giving the Pistons a 5-4 lead. Doyle, who started the play off by keeping a puck in at the blueline, and Hoffman picked up the assists.
Once again, the Kings responded, scoring to tie the game and then following that up with another marker to take the lead.
It would be the last time the Kings had the lead.
Evan Kabel got the play that tied the game started, as the 20-year-old defender made his way into the offensive zone. As he was hit, he managed to get the puck into the corner, where Gradt won a battle, then put a pass out front to an open Kaiser, who shovelled home his second of the night and 5th of the season.
Tied 6-6, both teams tried to lock things down, and as time melted away, it felt as though the game might be headed for overtime.
Cue Jack Greenwell.
After the final minute was announced, Kable moved a puck up the ice to Cole Cairns, who tipped up a pass for Greenwell, who turned on the jets and burned around a Kings defender. His speed forced the Kings’ goalie to overcommit, and as Greenwell centred a pass intended for a teammate, the puck glanced off a Kings defender and in, putting Steinbach up 7-6.
Dauphin pulled the goalie, and with the net empty, Hoffman sealed the victory by scoring his third of the year, and second of the night, unassisted, capping off a wild, 8-6 game.
Game notes
Steinbach’s power play clicked twice, going 2-5 against one of the MJHL’s best penalty killing teams, while their own penalty kill was a strong 2 for 3.
Chris Quizi picked up his 8th win of the season after making 24 saves, and while the goals against don’t look great from a distance, it be hard to fault him for anything that ended up in the net. He did manage to make a couple of big, timely saves throughout the game, giving his team a chance to eventually pull out the victory.
Four members of the Pistons are heading to Saskatchewan as part of the MJHL team that will take on the SJHL in the Western All-Star Challenge. Zhenya Miles, Brody Green, Evan Gradt, and Rory Gilmour are heading out on Monday for Martensville, Saskatchewan.
Up next
The remaining Pistons will get in some practices as they prepare for a pair of games over the weekend. Friday night, they’ll head to Selkirk, and then follow that up with a home game on Saturday night against the Virden Oil Capitals.
Article Courtesy of Steinbachonline.com – Picture Courtesy of Scott Stroh of Ice Wave Media
