It was certainly an interesting night Friday as everyone anticipated a 7:00 p.m. puck drop between the Steinbach Pistons and the Northern Manitoba Blizzard, with Steinbach looking to extend its winning streak to three games. However, plans changed due to issues with Northern Manitoba’s bus. The game ultimately started at 8:30, and unfortunately for the Blizzard, they had to jump right in without a warmup. Steinbach didn’t hold back on the scoreboard.
Marek Miller got the SEC crowd on their feet with an early power-play goal at 3:52. He took a cross-ice pass from Jackson Kostiuk and one-timed it past Keagin Kelln for the 19-year-old’s 10th of the campaign.
Sam Noad extended Steinbach’s lead to two at 11:22, finishing off a nice pass at the side of the net from Kostiuk for the London, Ont. native’s 13th, beating a sprawling Blizzard goalie glove side.
The Pistons added two goals in 27 seconds in the final minute of play to go into the first intermission up by four. Northern Manitoba turned the puck over, and Kostiuk walked into the slot and fired a shot past Kelln’s glove to make it 3-0, his third point of the opening frame. Steinbach capped off its four-goal first period outburst when Rory Gilmour fired a shot on net from the far left point that cleanly beat Kelln for his 12th.
Steinbach dominated the opening frame, leading the shots 21-5 and giving Northern Manitoba no room to breathe.
Just 18 seconds into the second period, Ryan McDonald continued to pile on the goals. Liam Doyle’s point shot was kicked out by Kelln right to McDonald on the doorstep, and he buried his 13th of the season.
Jack Greenwell added his 28th at 1:48, ending Kelln’s night as he was replaced by Nick Kunyk. Cole Cairns and Greenwell snuck behind Northern Manitoba’s defence on a two-on-one, with Cairns sliding a cross-slot backhand pass to Greenwell, who beat a sliding Kelln to make it 6-0.
Steinbach’s third goal of the second period, and seventh of the game, came at 13:29, courtesy of McDonald’s second of the night shorthanded to continue the bleeding for the Blizzard.
After 40 minutes of play, Steinbach held a 7-0 lead and a 41-11 advantage in shots.
Grady Hoffman added his name to the scoresheet 37 seconds into the final frame for the Yorkton, Sask. product’s 15th of the year to make it 8-0.
Steinbach went on to hand the Blizzard an 8-0 defeat, winning their third consecutive game and their second of the three-game homestand. Easton Thvedt earned his third shutout of the season, turning aside 19 shots, while McDonald (2G, 2A) and Kostiuk (1G, 2A) stood out offensively.
Steinbach is right back in action Saturday night for a rematch with the Portage Terriers, its second meeting in four days, to close out the three-game homestand. Puck drop is set for 8:00 p.m.
Article by Evan Waldner – Picture taken by Patrick Friesen
