Merek Pipes made 32 saves for his second shutout of the season as the Swan Valley Stampeders blanked the Steinbach Pistons 3-0 Saturday night in Swan River.
The Pistons came into the game five points back of the Stampeders for second place in the standings, but couldn’t find the back of the net. Matt Lenz played well in goal for the Pistons, stopping 23 of 26 shots in the loss.
Steinbach got off to a fast start, outshooting Swan 8-1 and getting a couple of power play chances. But they couldn’t cash in, and when the Stamps went to their first man advantage of the game, they did. Quintin Sudom’s point shot somehow got through everyone and put Swan on the board. Bradly Goethals and Campbell Balk picked up the assists on the defenceman Sudom’s 12th of the season at the 12:46 mark of the period.
The Pistons would get a late power play in the first, and Tyson McConnell would snap the puck off the post with about ten seconds to play in the frame. The Pistons would outshoot the Stampeders 12-4, but Swan led 1-0 after one.
In the latter stages of the second period, an unfortunate bounce cost Steinbach. As the Pistons looked to regroup, Declan Graham’s breakout pass up the boards hopped right over the stick of Tanner Mole. Goethals intercepted at the blue line and unleashed a cannon slapshot that beat Lenz with just over two minutes to play.
In the third, the Pistons took a penalty in the offensive zone, and the Stampeder power play made them pay again. Josh Maucieri went to the front of the net and tipped it a point shot past Lenz for a 3-0 lead. Landon Johnson and Troy Quinn had the assists on Maucieri’s 10thof the season at the 6:05 mark.
Steinbach controlled play from there on, and pushed hard to get back in the game. But Pipes was there to turn them away, and the Stampeders shut the door for the 3-0 victory.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Pistons went 0 for 4 with the man advantage, while Swan was 2 for 3 on their power plays.
UP NEXT: These two teams will go at it again tomorrow. Puck drop is scheduled for 4:00 pm, catch all the action live on HockeyTV.