The Steinbach Pistons beat the Winnipeg Blues Friday evening 4-3 in shootout in what was a very good back and forth hockey game.
The first period saw some great hockey from both teams but neither team could figure out the other team’s goaltender. Simon Harkness and Dawson Green both turned away all shots they faced with the shot totals 11-10 for the Pistons after the period.
The Pistons opened the scoring just over a minute into the second period as Jack Rogers got a nice goal of an assist from Travis Hensrud and Blake Norris.
Sean Williams for the Blues would tie the game at 1-1 with 2 minutes left in the period with the assists coming from Josiah Vanderhooft and Brayden Foreman.
With a minute and half remaining in the second period Pistons Bryce Warkentine would take a double minor for boarding and charging, so the Pistons penalty kill had to get to work.
In the dying seconds of the second period and a miss play by the Blues at the point, Travis Hensrud and Dawson Milliken got a 2 on 0. Dawson Milliken put it in the net with 1 second left on the clock to go into the period break up 2-1.
Ty Paisley would extend the lead to 3-1 at the 7:58 mark of the third period with Davis Fry and Dawson Milliken getting the assists.
The Blues, however, did not give up being down 2 goals with 12 minutes to go in the third period. Brayden Foreman scored less than a minute later from Eric Fawkes and Josiah Vanderhooft to bring the game within 1.
With just under 5 minutes to go in the game Josiah Vanderhooft would get the tying goal on a beautiful wrist shot making the game 3-3.
The game went to OT but that would not solve anything as neither team could score and both goalies played well shutting down some great scoring chances.
This would be the first game of the season for the Pistons to go to shootout. Both goalies stood tall as skater after skater for both teams kept getting turned away. Travis Hensrud with the game on his stick made a nice move scoring on the back hand and secured the 4-3 shootout win.