FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQEruozNJes
The Steinbach Pistons beat the Winkler Flyers by a score of 3-1 Tuesday evening at the TG Smith Centre to take a 2-1 series lead.
The Pistons would go to the penalty kill twice and also be assessed a gross misconduct before the 10-minute mark of the first period, not an ideal start to say the least. However, Steinbach’s strong penalty kill would get to work and keep the game scoreless.
Steinbach would get their first powerplay with under 5-minutes remaining in the opening period and capitalize on the opportunity. Ty Paisley had the puck at the right face-off dot and found Kirk Mullen on the doorstep with a backdoor feed to give the Pistons a 1-0 lead.
The teams would exchange penalties throughout the second period, with both penalty kills not giving the opposing team anything to work with and shutting down the offence.
At the 16:55 mark of the second period Winkler would finally solve Dominik Wasik and tie the game up 1-1. Trent Sambrook dropped the puck off for Mike Svenson in the high slot who put it glove side and past Wasik.
A minute and a half later Steinbach would restore the one goal lead. Travis Hensrud stole the puck from behind the Winkler net, came out front on the side of the net and put the puck right over the shoulder of Klassen to make it 2-1.
The Pistons would park the bus in the third period, as they tried to lock it down and keep the one goal lead. The Pistons only got one shot in the third period, but they made it count. Ian Amsbaugh got the puck in the neutral zone with one Winkler defenceman on him. He skated into the offensive zone and put a knuckle puck on net from the left faceoff dot and squeaked it through Klassen to make it 3-1.
Winkler would pour on the pressure, sustaining relentless zone time and offensive chances. Wasik would quash everything that game his way. Whether it was a shot from the point with traffic in front or a fleury in the crease, Wasik stayed big and calm in net, stopping everything that came his way.
The biggest save he made came in the second half of the third period with the Flyers making a cross crease pass, with a wide open shot out front but Wasik got across and stoned the Flyers forward.
Steinbach would go on to secure the 3-1 win over the Flyers and take a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 goes tomorrow night in Winkler.