Tanner Mole scored in the sixth round of the shootout in his return to the lineup to lift the lavender laden Steinbach Pistons to a 4-3 win over the Waywayseecappo Wolverines Friday night at the TG Smith Centre.
The Pistons were wearing purple Movember jerseys to honour those who have or are battling cancer, and they gave their hometown fans an exciting game.
Dante Giannuzzi got the win in relief of Matt Lenz, who left the game midway through the first period with an injury. Giannuzzi made 24 saves off the pine while Wayway goalie Liam Tereposky stopped 30 of 33 shots and was saddled with the loss.
Steinbach got on the board first as Ty Naaykens fed Bryce Young in the slot, and Young beat Tereposky past the blocker for a 1-0 lead. Curtis Ireland had the bonus assist on Young’s 2nd on the campaign with 7:02 to go.
Wayway responded two minutes later as Nick Doyle beat Giannuzzi from the left point to tie it up. But the Pistons got the lead back 1:45 later on a give-and-go by Max Neill and Troy Beauchemin. Beauchemin found Neill at the Wayway blueline, who kicked the puck up to his stick and fed the Ile Des Chenes product with a nifty pass. He beat Tereposky five-hole for a 2-1 lead, with Dylan Cassie getting the extra assist on Beauchemin’s 2nd goal of the season.
The Wolverines equalized 2:12 into the second period on the power play on a rebound goal by Rayman Bassi. But just like the previous Waywayseecappo goal, Steinbach would get the lead back just two minutes after. Ty Naaykens found a streaking Bryce Young down the middle of the ice, and Young deked to the backhand and beat Tereposky for his second goal of the night at 4:21 of the middle frame.
The Pistons ran into penalty problems halfway through the third period, which put the Wolverines on a two-man advantage. They took advantage as Doyle fed Conrad Phillips for a one-time goal to tie the game at 3 with 10:00 to go.
Steinbach would take a late penalty that would carry over into overtime, but the Pistons would kill off the penalty and the two sides would play 4-on-4 for the rest of the session.
After Noah Westgate opened the shootout with a goal, Steinbach needed a goal by Codey Behun to stay alive. Behun skated in and beat Tereposky five-hole to extend the shootout. In the sixth round Giannuzzi came up with a big toe save on Wayway forward Gerrik Ripley, setting the stage for Tanner Mole. Mole beat Tereposky five-hole again to give the Pistons the extra point and a 4-3 win.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Pistons went 0 for 4 on the power play while the Wolverines went 2 for 4.
UP NEXT: Steinbach ends the month of November with a 9-2-0 record, but December is where things are going to get busy. The Pistons will start a stretch of 10 games in 18 days starting on Wednesday at home against the Virden Oil Capitals. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 pm, get your tickets at Steinbachpistons.ca.