Grady Hoffman, Evan Gradt, and Brody Green each scored a goal, each had a primary assist, and each had a secondary assist, all in the second period, helping Steinbach eventually beat the Waywayseecappo Wolverines 4-0 on Friday night.
First period
Coming into the game, the Wolverines were shorthanded, having been bitten by the injury bug. Despite missing several key regulars, the feisty group came out on their toes, pushing the pace and getting on top of Steinbach in the neutral and offensive zone, resulting in them controlling play.
A big part of what made the Wolverines dangerous was a combination of some excellent stretch passes and the fact that Steinbach came out a little sleepy, not really moving their feet.
Later in the frame, the Pistons found their skating legs and took the game over, putting together some good, hard-working shifts, but they couldn’t crack the scoreboard, and the teams went into the intermission 0-0.
Steinbach managed 14 shots, and the Wolverines put 9 toward Easton Thvedt, who stopped every one.
Second period
Right from the drop of the puck, the Pistons took control of the game, and the line of Hoffman, Gradt, and Green went to work.
The opening goal started in the defensive zone with a nice breakout pass by Rory Gilmour. Gilmour put the puck up to Hoffman, who whipped it across the ice to a streaking Green, and with Gradt driving the net, Green hit him with the perfect pass and the 19-year-old knocked home his 11th of the year.
That trio would combine again a few minutes later, as Gradt chipped a puck into the Wolverines’ zone, beat his man down low, and with all five Wolverines watching him, Hoffman was left alone in front, and he scored his 6th of the campaign. Green also picked up a secondary assist on the 2-0 marker.
Green would make it a 3-0 contest as he sniped one through the five hole, giving him goals in back-to-back games, and putting him up to 11 on the year. Once again, Hoffman and Gradt earned the assists.
The whole line factored into all three goals, in every possible way, giving them 9 combined points in the period.
Defensively, Steinbach only gave up 4 shots in the period, and once again, Thvedt was perfect.
Third period
While the final frame didn’t have the same domination level for Steinbach, they kept Waywayseecappo from building any momentum, and when they did get looks, Thvedt was there to make the saves.
As the time melted away, the Wolverines pushed to try and find the back of the net.
With the net empty, the Wolverines flooded toward the front of the net, and a scramble allowed them to get a couple of excellent looks, but Thvedt started them down, refusing to let anything past.
Jack Greenwell buried a hard-working working empty-net goal, as the 20-year-old fought off several checkers after getting the puck to the crease area, then just got the puck over the line, celebrating his 19th goal of the year, unassisted.
The horn sounded, and Thvedt was surrounded by teammates, celebrating his 2nd shutout in his past three games, finishing with 20 saves.
Steinbach’s power play finished 0-2, and the penalty kill was a perfect 3-3.
Games notes
Grady Hoffman’s goal was his first in 8 games.
Brody Green has goals in back-to-back games and has four points in his last two.
Evan Gradt scored for the first time in 5 games and has four points in his last two.
Easton Thvedt shut out the Neepawa Titans and the Wolverines in the span of five days.
Jack Greenwell is tied for the MJHL goal lead with 19.
Up next
The Pistons have a week between games. They next suit up against the Niverville Nighthawks on Friday, December 5th, at the Southeast Event Centre. They follow that up with another home game at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday vs Selkirk.
