The Selkirk Steelers defeated the Steinbach Pistons 3-2 Friday night at Selkirk ending Steinbach’s 10-game Manitoba Junior Hockey League winning streak. In the process, the Pistons have started another winning streak of sorts as they have gained points in 11 straight games and haven’t suffered a regulation time loss since a 5-3 setback nearly a month ago, Jan. 2 at Portage.
The Pistons were full marks for gaining a point out of last night’s game as they rallied from a 2-0 deficit. The Steelers scored the lone goal of the first as Victor Knaub beat Roman Bengert just two minutes after the opening face-off. Riley Derlago made it 2-0 Selkirk as he scored in the opening minute of the second.
Cole Smith finally beat Hayden Dola late in the second on a goal set up by Dan Taillefer to give the Pistons a lift going into the fnal period. Bradley Schoonbaert tied it on the powerplay at 7:16 of the third. Smith and Taillefer also drew assists on the goal.
Taillefer’s two assists give him a league-leading 46 on the season. The veteran forward is also fifth overall in the MJHL scoring race with 61 points.
The Pistons outshot the Steelers 42-25 in the game but were stonewalled by Dola who made 40 saves.
Elsehwere in the MJHL on Friday night: OCN edged Virden 5-4, Winnipeg crushed Neepawa 8-1 and Winkler edged Swan Valley 4-3 as Lawson McDonald scored the winning goal for the Flyers with one second left in the game.
Steinbach’s second place record goes to 36-9-3 while the Steelers improve to 20-24-2. These same two teams will go at it again tonight in Steinbach with the puck drop at 7:30 p.m. at the T.G. Smith Centre.