Content Provided By: Steinbach Online
It took a pair of goals in the final minutes for the Steinbach Pistons to claw their way back to even forcing overtime but the Neepawa Titans managed to score twice in the shootout to claim a 6-5 victory.
In the first period, the Pistons had several good chances thanks to hard work in the offensive zone. The best chance came with Sam Zagari taking a pass from Reece Gault and walking right toward the goal but his shot was stopped and it remained scoreless.
Neepawa managed to open the scoring, grabbing a 1-0 lead.
Steinbach pushed back but solid work from the Neepawa goaltender kept his team up by one, that was until the final seconds of the opening period when the Titans fired a shot from the point that was tipped in front, putting them up 2-0 after the first period.
Heading into the second period, Steinbach remained scoreless making it over 4 periods of hockey since they last celebrated a goal.
That streak would come to an end after a bit of a lucky bounce ended up on the stick of Brayden Berg who put a perfect shot top shelf for his 14th of the year to cut the lead to 2-1.
A power play would give Steinbach the chance to even the game, something they wouldn’t squander.
Working the puck quickly, Brett Kaiser picked up a puck down low and hit Connor Paronuzzi with a quick feed and Paronuzzi wasted no time snapping home the 2-2 goal.
For the 19-year-old MJHL point leader, it was his 14th of the year.
Parounuzzi would help give Steinbach the lead as the next shift after the power play goal had him working in the offensive zone, he walked out from behind the net trying to jam in a loose puck. He kept the play alive and eventually it was Grady Hoffman who cashed in for his 9th of the season, giving Steinbach their first lead of the night 3-2.
Coming off a strong second, Steinbach kept up the work ethic and time started to melt away in the period.
On a delayed penalty, Neepawa managed to tie the game 3-3.
With less than four minutes to go in the game, the Titans scored not once but twice to take a 5-3 lead in the span of 35 seconds.
Showing a lot of heart and no quit, the Pistons didn’t pack up and concede the game.
With the goalie pulled, Neepawa looked as thought they were going to seal the game but a great, hard working effort from Spence Penner kept the Titans from hitting the open net. A play that would loom large with what was to come.
Steinbach worked the puck around the offensive zone when Gault kept a puck in a the blueline, forced it toward the net and while Zagari couldn’t get a shot, the puck from Paronuzzi who hammered home his second of the game and 15th of the season making it 5-4.
After taking a timeout, the Pistons kept up the pressure.
After another scramble in front of the Titans net, the puck found Hoffman who hesitated just long enough before roofing his second of the night and 10th of the season, knotting the game 5-5 with assists to Matt Munro and Gault.
In overtime, the Titans had a chance to end the game on a penalty shot but River Leslie-Toogood stood tall, forcing the Titans shooter to put a shot high up over the net, keeping the game going.
Another incredible save was to come in overtime for Leslie-Toogood as he kicked out his leg turning away a great chance by the Titans captains.
Overtime solved nothing and the game went into a shootout.
Steinbach started the breakaway challenge but their first attempt was stopped.
Neepawa scored to grab the lead.
After being stopped on the second shot, Steinbach needed goal to keep the game alive and Kaiser delivered.
The Titans would end it on the next attempt, taking a 6-5 win back to Neepawa.
Steinbach’s power play was 1-3 while the penalty kill was 2-2.
Shots were 57-33 Pistons through regulation and overtime.
Steinbach will next see action on Tuesday when they welcome in the Selkirk Steelers.