Content Provided By: Steinbach Online
The Steinbach Pistons extended their latest winning streak to 7 straight after a pair of wins over the weekend against the Swan Valley Stampeders and rival Niverville Nighthawks.
Shots, shots shots, everybody!
On Friday night, the Pistons put a season-high 68 shots on goal over 60 dominating minutes of hockey, coming away with an impressive 7-0 win over the Swan Valley Stampeders.
Forward Trey Sauder was making his Pistons debut against his former team and right off the opening faceoff, Sauder had a glorious chance but just slid the puck wide of the net, setting the tone for the game ahead.
Leo Chambers kept his hot play of late going scoring his 12th of the year off a rebound after a Parker Jasper point shot was deflected by Brandon Funk.
Shots continued to pile up for Steinbach but it remained 1-0 into the final minutes of the period.
While on a power play, the Stamps came within inches of knotting up the game as they were able to walk in and rip a wrister that clanked off the post and stayed out.
In the second, Sauder would get on the board. After a great job along the boards by Kirk Mullen, he kicked the puck to a streaking Sauder who went forehand to backhand to the back of the net. Sauder’s 13th of the year was his first with his new club, putting his old team in a 2-0 hole.
Less than a minute later, the Pistons’ power play went to work as Funk buried his 16th of the year from Sam Noad and Mullen. For Funk, it was his MJHL leading 9th power-play goal.
Mullen capped off a tidy three-point night by notching his 18th of the season to extend the lead to 4-0. Noad picked up his second assist while Jamie Fuchs also added a helper.
The final goal of the period came thanks to Chambers who ripped home a power-play goal, his second of the night and 13th of the year, making it a 5-0 game. Brady Ingebritson and Noah Szabo picked up the helpers.
In the third Sauder buried his second of the night and 14th of the year from Brett Kaiser and Shane Burns, putting Steinbach up 6-0.
Burns, making his return to the lineup after an injury kept him out through most of the season to this point, picked up the 7-0 goal as the defender hammered a point shot that made it through all the bodies in front and went in for his first MJHL goal. Chambers and Grady Hoffman were given credit for the assists.
Despite owning the puck and spending most of the night in the offensive zone, Steinbach’s goalie Cole Plowman was called upon to make a few very timely saves. Most notably, a hard pad save in the second period when the game was still close.
Plowman finished with 23 saves for his second shutout of the year.
Steinbach outshot Swan Valley 68-23, they were 2 for 4 on the power play and a spectacular 8 for 8 while short-handed.
Blueline Heros
On Sunday, the Pistons traveled to Niverville for an afternoon date with the Nighthawks and despite being shorthanded on the backend, they pulled off a strong 3-2 victory.
Just before the game, Noah Szabo was scratched and Shane Burns took his place in the lineup.
A few minutes into the game, Parker Jasper was forced to leave with an upper-body injury and did not return.
Through the first, both teams had their moments with Steinbach doing a good job on the forecheck while Niverville showed off some impressive counter rushes for opportunities.
The Nighthawks were gifted a 5 on 3 for over a minute late in the period but couldn’t manage to get much toward the goal. After Steinbach killed off bot penalties, they were given another minor and sent to the box for a third consecutive time.
The great hustle from the penalty killers kept the game scoreless as they finished the period 3 for 3 without giving up much in the way of great chances against.
In the second, Trey Sauder buried his third goal in his second game with Steinbach, potting a rebound for his 15th of the year. Brett Kaiser and David Cote had the assists, 1-0 Steinbach.
Five minutes later, the lead would grow thanks to Brady Ingebritson who tore down the boards and into the Nighthawks zone, getting some space with his good speed and firing a wrister top shelf for his 8th of the year.
The 2-0 lead was cut in half later in the period after a bouncing puck was knocked in just as the net appeared to be knocked off. The goal stood and it was a 2-1 game.
It wasn’t a one-goal game for long, as just 22 seconds after Niverville scored, Brandon Funk converted off of some wonderful hard work by Connor Paronuzzi and Sam Noad. For Funk, it was his second goal in as many games and 17th of the year.
Before the period was out, the Nighthawks would finally cash in on the power play. Their 5th man advantage of the game brought it back to a one-goal contest, 3-2 after 40 minutes.
In the third, the Nighthawks pushed but David Cote, Spencer Penner, Shane Burns, Liam Doyle, and Dawson McCann held the fort defensively.
Cole Plowman was a star in goal, making save after save and keeping the Nighthawks frustrated.
Two late penalties gave the Nighthawks a chance to tie, first 5 on 4 then in the final minutes with the goalie pulled, 6 on 4.
Steinbach held the fort and got the game to the final buzzer, holding on to a 3-2 win.
The penalty kill was a massive difference maker, going 7 for 8. The power play had just two chances to go to work but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Plowman finished with 18 saves in the win.
Up Next:
The Waywayseecappo Wolverines head to HyLife Centre for the first time this season on Wednesday night. That will be followed up by a game in Portage Friday before returning home to face the Neepawa Titans on Sunday afternoon, puck drop at 2:30 pm.