The Steinbach Pistons will match up against the Swan Valley Stampeders to start their Manitoba Junior Hockey League playoffs.
Here’s a break down of the teams during the regular season and how they matched up through their 6 meetings this season.
Steinbach Pistons (45-10-5) – 2nd – 95 points
Power Play – 27.5% – 1st
Penalty Kill – 81.2% – 6th
Goals For – 251
Goals Against – 138
Goal Differential: 2nd @ +113
Top 3 Scorers:
Daniel Taillefer – 22G 59A = 81pts
Cole Smith – 26G 35A = 61pts
Tyler Penner – 23G 35A = 58pts
Goalies:
Roman Bengert: 25-8 3SO GAA: 2.07 SV%: .926
Jeremy Wik: 20-7 1SO GAA: 2.27 SV%: .913
Swan Valley Stampeders (22-29-9) – 7th – 53 points
Power play – 17.7% – 6th
Penalty kill – 76.3% – 7th
Goals For – 174
Goals Against – 207
Goal Differential: 7th @ -33
Top 3 Scorers:
Josh Tripp – 23G 24A = 47pts
Cody Ellingson – 14G 29A = 43pts
Colton Brausen – 17G 24A = 41pts
Goalie Stats:
Zach De Graves – 16-25 3SO GAA: 2.88 SV%: .916
Brett Evans – 6-13 0SO GAA: 4.14 SV%: .886
Season Series:
Saturday October 3rd – Showcase weekend – Pistons win 4-3 in overtime (game was considered a home game for Steinbach)
Game Summary: Steinbach jumped out in front 2-0 but Swan scored 3 unanswered to take the lead. Steinbach scored with :34 seconds remaining in regulation. James Shearer scored the overtime winner with a rocket from the point. Bengert (W) De Graves (OTL)
Friday October 9th – in Steinbach – Pistons win 7-2
Game Summary: Cole Smith and Tyler Penner each had two goals while the power play went a strong 4 for 8. Swan scored both their goals on the power play and both coming from Jordie Valentino. Bengert (W) Evans (L)
Sunday November 15th – in Swan River – Pistons win 4-3
Game Summary: Steinbach opened the scoring but Swan stormed back scoreing three goals including two on the power play to lead half way through the third 3-1. The Pistons would rally to tie late in the third and Tyler Penner would score the game winning goal with just 11 seconds left in the game. Bengert (W) De Graves (L)
Sunday December 6th – in Swan River – Pistons win 2-1 in shootout
Game Summary: Zac De Graves played sensational despite losing in a shootout making 50 saves between regulation and overtime. Steinbach needed late game heroics from Dan Taillefer who tied the game with 1:06 remaining. Bradley Schoonbaert got the only goal of the 10 total shooters between the clubs. Bengert (W) De Graves (SOL)
Sunday February 6th – in Steinbach – Pistons win 3-1
Game Summary: Another strong showing for De Graves as he turned away 47 shots but the Pistons used a pair of third period goals to take the victory. Josh Martin scored the lone goal for Swan while Denis Bosc had a goal and assist for Steinbach. Wik (W) De Graves (L)
Sunday February 28th – in Swan River – Pistons win 5-1
Game Summary: Coming off an emotional shootout loss the the Portage Terriers, the Stampeders came out flat with Steinbach having 19 shots in the opening period but only 1 goal. In the second, Steinbach exploded for 4 unanswered and that all but sealed it. The lone Stampeders goal was on the power play by Cody Ellingson. Bengert (W) Evans (L)
Stampeders: Even though the Pistons held a 6-0 record over the Stampeders, several of those games had Swan out in front right up until the final minutes. Zac De Graves is a real equalizer and can hold Swan in games. It will be up to the offence to come through and give their goalie some support. The power play for Swan has shown they can score against the Pistons and that trend will need to continue. The defenders have shown the ability to get shots through from the points and Swan has the skill in tight to cause havoc in front of the opposition net and bang home rebounds.
Pistons: The offensive depth of the Pistons is going to be a major factor in this seris as Steinbach feels that all 4 forward lines can contribue offensively and be responsable defensivly. Bolstered by the return of several injured players, the Pistons will need to continue doing the little things right in all 3 zones against a young and hungry Stampeder squad. Their top ranked power play will look to continue to make teams pay while the focus must remain on team defence. Steinbach has two capable goaltenders that can get the job done and will be confident with whomever is between the pipes.