Courtesy of Steinbachonline.com
The Steinbach Pistons snapped their mini two-game losing streak on Sunday night demolishing the Neepawa Natives 9-0.
During those back-to-back losses for the Pistons, Head Cach Paul Dyck knew that if the team could continue along with the high level of effort, the results would be there and on Sunday, the results were there right from the start.
“I really liked our game, we played a 60 minute game.” Dyck said post-game. “We really want to make a priority of playing a 200 foot game and minimizing their opportunities. I don’t know what we gave up but I think you can count their chances on one hand. We’re very pleased with our effort in all three zones.”
Jordan Bochinski dominated the first period scoring a pair (12,13) of beautiful goals giving Steinbach a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission. Matthieu Gomercic and Scott Petkau each picked up one assist. In the second period, the scoring continued in bunches.
Cole Smith would score a hat-trick (20,21,22) while Hayden Goderis had a pair of goals (20,21) and Matthieu Gomercic potted one (10) as well. Quintin Lisoway, Dan Taillefer (3), Denis Bosc, Bradley Schoonbaert, Darby Gula (2), Bochinski and Tyler Anderson all had helpers. In the third, it was Taillefer putting the final goal (17) on the board from Smith and Matt Stanley.
Roman Bengert picked up the shutout making 28 saves. Bengert didn’t have to make any game saving stops, but early on while the Pistons got into penalty trouble, he did have to come up big. The Pistons were down 5-on-3 twice in the first period but because of a great team defensive effort and the steady play of Bengert, they came out unscathed.
The power play went 2-for-7 and the penalty kill finished 6-for-6. The Pistons fired 55 shots on goal.
The final road trip of the regular season continues on Friday when Steinbach travels to face the Dauphin Kings for the final time in the regular season. The game versus the Kings kicks off three games in three nights and all will be on AM 1250 and SteinbachOnline.com with pre-game on Friday at 7:15 PM and puck drop at 7:30 PM.
Standings Watch: The Winkler Flyers fell in a shootout to the Selkirk Steelers and now trail the Pistons by 4 points for second place in the MJHL. Both teams have 5 games left in the regular season.
Pistons History: Tie a team record for margin of victory at 9. New record for margin of victory in an away game. Set team record for fastest two goals (9 seconds) and fastest 5 goals (6:01 in the second period). Tie team-high 86 points in a season set back in 2013-14.