Article provided by Steinbachonline.com – Photo provided by Scott Stroh of Ice Wave Media
The Steinbach Pistons stormed out of the scoring less than a minute in, and despite a rocky first half of the first, they would run up the score, eventually sealing a 7-2 win at the Southeast Event Centre.
First period
Returning forward, Ryan McDonald made his season debut, and it took less than thirty seconds for him to have an impact. The hard-nosed Saskatchewan product drove the net and caused a distraction, allowing defender Liam Doyle time and space to work his way into the zone. Doyle’s shot glanced off a body in front and in, putting Steinbach up 1-0 in the first minute. Rory Gilmour grabbed an assist, along with McDonald.
Swan Valley pushed right back after the goal, putting together several good shifts, with one eventually resulting in the goal that evened the game 1-1.
Steinbach would respond in a big way and quickly.
Zhenya Miles restored Steinbach’s lead as the defender snuck down from the blueline, got into a quiet area, received a beautiful pass from Logan Mehl, and wired home his third of the year, putting the Pistons up 2-1. For Miles, it’s his third of the year already, with Evan Kabel picking up an assist.
Before that goal could even be announced, Miles was at it again. He forced a turnover just inside the Stamps’ blueline, then hit a flying Brett Kaiser with a pass, and he walked in and buried his second of the season, giving Steinbach a 3-1.
Mehl was at it again later in the period as he once again showed off his incredible playmaking, as the young star burst into the offensive zone, slid a pass over to a driving Jack Greenwell, who made no mistake, knocking home his 7th of the year, bringing the score to 4-1 late in the period.
That fourth goal was thanks in large part to the defensive work of Kable, who, after breaking his stick, stuck with the puck in the defensive zone, eventually winning a battle and freeing the puck up for Mehl to breakout. For his efforts, Kable was credited with his second assist of the game.
A power play late gave the Pistons a chance to run away even more, but the Stamps killed it off, keeping the game 4-1 after the first period.
Second period
Steinbach would increase their lead in the second as William Picklyk showed off his speed, keeping a play alive in the offensive zone, as he slid a puck to Greenwell, crashing the net. Greenwell was stopped, but the rebound was available for Picklyk, who buried his first MJHL goal, making it 5-1 for Steinbach.
Greenwell would score his second of the night a short time later, as he slipped into the slot, and while his shot broke his stick, he managed to get enough on it to put it toward the net, where it clanked off a defender in front and in. Greenwell’s eighth of the year was assisted by Kaiser and Miles, who collected his third point of the night on the 6-1 marker.
Quizi was put to the test a few times as the Stamps refused to go quietly. The 20-year-old made some timely saves throughout and battled when his team did get into trouble.
Shots were 14-13 Swan Valley in the second, but the score was 6-1 for Steinbach.
Third period
Swan Valley managed to cut into the lead within the first few minutes of the third, but Steinbach would respond.
Continuing his strong game, Mehl scored his second of the year from Mason Landry and Kasen Mateychuk, boosting the score to 7-2.
That would be more than enough as Steinbach came out victorious.
Shots were 56-31 Steinbach, and with 29 saves, Quizi improves to 5-0.
The power play was 0-3 and the penalty kill was 2-2.
Up next
Steinbach travels to Selkrik on Saturday night as two of the top teams in the East Division lock horns for the first time this year.
