Content Provided By: Steinbach Online
Despite a long day of traveling followed by a quiet day in the hotel, the Pistons pulled out a pair of wins over the weekend to improve to 17-2-1 on the season, good for first place in the MJHL.
The Hoff Continues To Amaze
Friday night, the Pistons traveled to Swan Valley and with the help of a pair of goals from Grady Hoffman, came out with a 4-1 win.
In the first couple of minutes of the game, neither team was able to do much. The Pistons started to shake off the bus legs as the frame went on and eventually, dominated through the first period, outshooting Swan Valley 18-4 but the score remained 0-0.
Early in the second, the Stamps pushed but Steinbach’s Cole Plowman had the answers to any shot, keeping it scoreless.
With just over 7 minutes to go in the second, Grady Hoffman chased in after a Brady Ingebritson shot hit a skate in front, leaving the net wide open for Hoffman to fire home his 13th of the season. Leo Chambers picked up the secondary assist.
In the third, some tense moments as the Stamps, thanks to some great goaltending, just kept hanging around down by just a shot.
David Cote helped relieve some worry as the defender picked up a puck in the shot and wired a shot through the goalie and in for his 3rd of the year. Connor Paronuzzi and Brandon Funk, both keys to the goal with their hard work and dogged puck pursuit, picked up the assists.
Hoffman delivered the dagger a few minutes later as the super rookie walked in and uncorked an absolutely perfect shot that rang off the bottom of the crossbar and in for his second of the night and team-leading 14th. Chambers, who was arguably the best Piston all evening, nabbed one assist while Chad Cote picked up his first career MJHL point with the secondary assist.
Swan Valley refused to go quietly and after earning a power play, they pulled the goalie to go 6 on 4 while down 3-0 late in the third. It eventually became a 6 on 3 after Plowman put a puck into the screen for a delay of game.
Steinbach held tough and got through the 6 on 3 and as Mullen came out of the box, he fought through the checking of a defender and directed a puck into the empty net for his 10th. Spencer Penner, who made several key blocks short-handed and Chambers picked up the helpers.
Later on that same power play, a defensive breakdown cost Plowman the shutout as the Stamps scored to make the score look a little more flattering, 4-1.
Plowman was solid making 25 saves on the night. The power play was 0-1 while the penalty kill got nipped at the end of the game, finishing 1-2.
Slow and Steady Saturday
It took a little time but the Pistons grinded out a 3-1 win over the Blizzard on Saturday night.
In a game featuring two of the top goalies in the MJHL, both teams knew they’d have their work cut out for them.
Less than five minutes in, Brandon Funk cashed in off a beautiful pass from Kirk Mullen to put the Pistons up 1-0. David Cote nabbed the secondary assist while Mullen extended his point streak to 6 games.
The Blizzard managed to respond at the tail end of a power play as a point shot seemingly deflected off someone in front and in, knotting the game 1-1.
Both Cole Plowman for Steinbach and the Blizzard netminder were rocks in their respective creases. Shots finished 15-12 Steinbach after the first.
In the second, both teams pushed but again, thanks to strong goaltending, the score remained 1-1 after 40 minutes.
It looked as though the game was going to need extra time, just like the last two times these teams met. In the first matchup, Steinbach won in a shootout, the second saw the Blizzard sneak out with an overtime win.
Parker Jasper had other ideas.
The 20-year-old defender who came into the game searching for his first goal of the year, picked a perfect time to score it as he floated a wrist shot through traffic, missing all the bodies in front and getting it past the goalie to make it 2-1 Steinbach. Noah Szabo and Brady Ingebritson picked up the assists.
Just 39 seconds later, Funk notched his second of the game off a nice dish from Connor Paronuzzi to put the Pistons up 3-1. Cote nabbed his second point of the night with the bonus helper.
Steinbach got into some penalty trouble late but despite having a man advantage, the Blizzard didn’t pull the goalie to make it a 6 on 4. They tried to go 5 on 4 but Steinbach killed off the penalty.
Even with time after, the Blizzard never used their timeout or put out an extra attacker.
Time ran out and Steinbach came away with the win.
Plowman made some massive saves, especially in the third period as the 20-year-old finished the night with 28 saves.
The Piston’s power play was 0-2 while the penalty kill went 3-4.
Up Next
Steinbach will host the Dauphin Kings in a battle of top-tier teams Friday night. They have Saturday night off before heading to Winnipeg to battle the Freeze on Sunday.