FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j9VzPsS3kM
The Steinbach Pistons fell to the Swan Valley Stampeders Saturday evening at the TG Smith Centre by a score of 3-2, to make the series 3-2.
The first period did not see any scoring, but it did see a high number of chances and scoring opportunities. The Pistons went to the penalty kill 47 seconds into the game with Davis Fry being assessed a tripping penalty. Swan Valley got a high volume of shots, but Wasik turned away everything faced his way.
It took almost half of the first period for the Pistons to officially register a shot on goal. Steinbach went to the powerplay midway through the first period. Like Wasik, Kobe Grant had good control, keeping the game scoreless.
Through the first period of play the game was tied 0-0 with the Pistons outshooting the Stampeders 17-9.
Swan Valley opened the scoring five minutes into the second period. Jakob Jones shot from the slot with the puck redirecting in front and sliding past Wasik to make it 1-0.
Just over five minutes later, the Stampeders would extend their lead to 2-0. Warren Marcotte entered the Pistons zone with what did not look like a dangerous scoring opportunity, but with a weird shot that resulted Wasik just getting a toe on it trickled past him and into the net.
Steinbach would bring the game back to within one goal in the dying seconds of the second period. Ty Paisley was robbed by the post out front with the rebound going out front and Kirk Mullen finding it in some feet and putting it past Grant to make it 2-1.
The Pistons would come out in the third period looking for the elusive tying goal. The Stampeders, however, would do a good job of shutting down the Pistons zone entries and everything going at Grant was swallowed up or turned away.
With just under four minutes remaining in the game Steven Arp would restore the two-goal lead. Arp got the puck down low, wrapping it around the net and over Wasik’s pad to make the score 3-1.
Steinbach would make it somewhat interesting as Ty Paisley would put a seeing eye shot through bodies and past Grant with the goalie pulled to make it 3-2 with 43 seconds remaining. Swan Valley would hold on and close out game 5 with a 3-2 win to force a game 6 Monday night in Swan River.