The Steinbach Pistons returned to the TG Smith Centre for the first time in almost three weeks and responded by defeating the Portage Terriers 5-1 Wednesday night in Steinbach.
Steinbach got goals from five different scorers, Carter Loney led the way with 3 assists, and Matt Lenz picked up the win in goal for the Pistons with 20 saves on the night to hand the Centennial Cup hosts’ first loss of the 2019-20 season. Nathan Moore stopped 23 of 28 Steinbach shots in the loss.
Steinbach came out flying in the first period and grabbed a stranglehold on the game early by notching three goals in the first period. The Pistons connected on the power play to start as Max Neill notched his 3rd of the season 6:17 into the game to put Steinbach up 1-0, with Curtis Ireland and Loney picking up the assists.
Ty Naaykens would make it 2-0 with 8 minutes remaining, as he jumped on a rebound behind Moore and jammed it in for his 2nd goal of the season. Loney and Caydin Cleland picked up the assists on the Naaykens marker.
Almost two minutes later, David Queree fired a wrist shot that snuck underneath the arm of Moore for a 3-0 Pistons advantage. Rylan Clemons and Troy Beauchemin nabbed the apples on Queree’s first goal of the season.
Early in the second period, Steinbach would connect on the power play once again as Curtis Ireland beat Moore with Neill screening the goalie to make it 4-0 Pistons. Loney would nab his 3rd assist on Ireland’s 2nd goal of the season.
Portage would get a goal back late in the second period, as Reece Henry scored shorthanded to cut the Pistons lead to 4-1. But Troy Beauchemin would restore the four goal advantage in the third and final period, who spun around in front of Moore and backhanded the puck underneath the pad. Clemons would pick up his second assist of the game on Beauchemin’s first goal of the season.
The Pistons would cruise from there, sending the TG Smith crowd home with a 5-1 victory.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Pistons’ special teams units played their best game of the season so far, going 2 for 8 on the night while killing off all 7 man advantages from a dangerous Terriers power play.
UP NEXT: Steinbach plays two more home games this weekend on Friday against the Swan Valley Stampeders and Saturday night against the Dauphin Kings. Both games start at 7:30 pm, get your tickets for those games one hour prior to game time or by heading online to Steinbachpistons.ca/tickets.