After a thrilling game Friday night at the Southeast Event Centre where the Steinbach Pistons came out on top 4-2 against the league-best Niverville Nighthawks, Steinbach travelled to Selkirk for the second half of a back-to-back against the Steelers at Selkirk Recreational Complex on Valentine’s Day.
Steinbach wasted little time getting on the scoresheet. Jackson Kostiuk fed captain Sam Noad in alone to the net, and he beat Ethan Sawyer with a backhand deke for his 17th of the season to open the scoring at 1:30.
Brett Kaiser added to the lead at 5:47 with his 11th, finishing off a sweet tic-tac-toe play that he started and finished when he drove to the net and beat Sawyer, who was sliding to his left, on his forehand to make it 2-0 Steinbach.
Steinbach held a two-goal lead into the first intermission while leading the shots 12-9.
Despite a scoreless second frame, Pistons defenceman Evan Kabel and Steelers defenceman Peyten Legg-Cote dropped the gloves, and after just a few seconds Kabel came out on top, taking down Legg-Cote.
Easton Thvedt made a ridiculous glove save with just over 13 minutes to play to keep the Steelers off the board. Owen Branson and Carter Haney broke out on a 2-on-1, Branson sent a cross-ice pass to Haney, and he fired a shot on net but couldn’t beat Thvedt, who slid from right to left to deny Haney with his glove.
The Pistons maintained their 2-0 lead after 40 minutes while outshooting Selkirk 23-16.
Evan Gradt added some insurance, making it 3-0 late in the third period while shorthanded. Gradt carried the puck into the Steelers’ zone and dished a pass to Logan Mehl coming up the left side. Gradt drove to the net, got a return feed from Mehl in front, and beat Sawyer for his 21st at 15:52.
Jackson Kostiuk netted an empty-net goal with 42 seconds left, his eighth, followed by another late marker 25 seconds later by Mehl for his eighth, which secured him Third Star of the Game.
Thvedt, who was named Second Star, turned aside 22 saves for his fourth shutout of the season, helping Steinbach steamroll Selkirk 5-0 for its seventh straight victory. Captain Noad earned First Star honours with a goal and two assists as Steinbach improved to 38-8-2, now sitting just three points back of the Nighthawks for first place in the MJHL.
Steinbach will cap off the three-game long weekend with a Monday matinee matchup at home against the Winnipeg Blues. Puck drop is set for 2:30 p.m., and you can watch on FloHockey.
Article written by Evan Waldner – Picture courtesy of Scott Stroh
