The Steinbach Pistons head to Winkler tonight to face off against the Flyers with puck drop set for 7:00pm.
The Pistons are coming off a road trip that saw them secure 3 of 4 points in back-to-back games that went to shootout. Steinbach dropped the first game to the Swan Valley Stampeders by a score of 2-1 in shootout and then won the second game over the OCN Blizzard 1-0 in shootout. With Portage just needing one more point to clinch first place in the MJHL it looks like the Pistons will be playing the Flyers in the first round of playoffs. Steinbach is 8-points up on the Winkler Flyers with 81 points and 3-games remaining in the season.
The Winkler Flyers just recently got passed by the Swan Valley Stampeders in the MJHL standings, so Winkler is now in fourth place with 73 points and a 33-15-6-1 record. Winkler is 3-2 in their last 5-games with them have lost their last two games. Their last 5-games have been close matchups with the Winnipeg Freeze giving the Flyers a scare a couple of games ago as they beat the Freeze 6-5. Winkler will look to regain that third-place spot in the MJHL tonight with a win over the Steinbach Pistons.
SPECIAL TEAMS
PISTONS: PP 57/231 – 24.7% PK 188/233 – 80.7%
FLYERS: PP 44/227 – 19.4% PK 201/251 – 80.1%
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Pistons: Dawson Milliken
Dawson Milliken had a great two game on the road trip north this past weekend with him getting the shootout winner in the game over OCN. Milliken is a player that impacts not only on the score sheet but also with his off the puck play. Milliken is physical, back checks well and is a difference maker for the Pistons.
Flyers: Trent Sambrook
Trent Sambrook has 51 points (10 goals and 41 assists) in 54 games this season and was also awarded the MJHL Defenceman of the year award. Sambrook is an elite D-man who skates well, controls the flow of play well and shuts down the opposing team’s attacks. Sambrook is also a great playmaker who has an eye to find teammates and generate offence.