Brendan Westbrook scored the game-winner with 1:32 to go in the third period as the Steinbach Pistons beat the Selkirk Steelers 4-3 Saturday night.
The Pistons fired a high number of shots on goal just as they did on Friday night against the Blues. Matt Radomsky made his first home start in three weeks, and made 24 saves in the win. Steelers goalie Zach Bennett stopped 46 of 50 shots in the loss. The Pistons win snapped the Steelers’ six game win streak.
Steinbach got the scoring started 2:20 into the game, as Tanner Mole busted in on a breakaway shorthanded and beat Bennett to give the Pistons the lead. Troy Williams picked up the assist on Mole’s 15thof the season. The Pistons outshot Selkirk 12-9 in the first period, and led 1-0 after one.
Tyson McConnell put the Pistons up 2-0 2:18 into the second period, as he beat Bennett with a quick wrister over the right shoulder. Mole and Westbrook picked up the helpers on the captain’s 15thgoal of the season.
Selkirk responded on the power play with just over five minutes to go in the second, as Noah Basarab redirected a point shot past Radomsky to cut the Steinbach lead to 2-1.
The Pistons restored the lead once again on the power play. After a Steelers turnover, Westbrook threw a shot wide off the glass. On the carem, the puck hit Bennett’s back and rolled in for the Pine City native’s first of the night and sixth goal of the season with under three minutes to go in period two. Steinbach fired 20 shots on goal in the period and were outshooting the Steelers 32-16 after two.
Selkirk responded in the third period and quickly tied it up. First, Nate Halvorsen got around his man and beat Radomsky bar-down glove side to cut the Steinbach lead to 3-2 3:06 into the third period.
Then Selkirk tied it up as Connor Barley’s backhander made it 3-3 seven minutes into the third. The Pistons got right back on the horse and started the climb to win it. The Pistons 50thshot of the game went in as Westbrook beat Bennett with a rifle wrister over the glove with 1:32 left for a 4-3 Steinbach lead. Mole and McConnell had the assists as Westbrook completed a three-point night with his 7th goal of the season.
UP NEXT: The Pistons will enjoy the holiday break with family and friends back home before coming back together just before the new year to resume practices. Steinbach’s next game is on the road when they head to Neepawa for the first time this season to face the Natives on Wednesday, January 2ndat 7:30 pm.