- The line of Jackson Kostiuk, Brayden Berg and Brody Green combined for 6 points helping the Steinbach Pistons extend their winning streak with a 3-1 win on Saturday night over the Waywayseecappo Wolverines.
It wasn't a great start for Steinbach as even before puck drop, they were dealt a blow when captain Noah Szabo exited during the warmup with an injury. He did not play in the game, but was in good spirits after the contest.
Early in the first, the Wolverines, who had not seen action in several days, came out strong and fast but Steinbach held their own, pushing back and coming away with some good looking chances themselves.
Both goalies were perfect in the opening 20 minutes and the game went into the second with no score.
While on the power play, Pistons produced the opening goal of the game. After several good looks, a point shot by Steinbach was blocked and the puck was knocked all the way to their own blueline. Reece Gault quickly went back and while the Wolverines were on a line change, quickly moved the puck up to Kostiuk who dropped a pass for Sam Noad to walk in and snipe his 3rd of the season, putting Steinbach up 1-0.
Waywayseecappo would respond on a power play of their own, evening up the game 1-1 through the first two periods.
In the third, a strong shift by Steinbach put the Wolverines on their heels and during a frantic moment in front of the net, the Wayway goalie lost his stick.
As the play continues, the netminder could not grab his goal stick and Steinbach was able to make a line change. The fresh legs kept the Wolverines hemmed in their zone and eventually led to Berg walking in and wiring a shot past the goalie on the would-be stick side, putting Steinbach up 2-1. Kostiuk and Brody Green were given the assists.
"Yeah, I knew he wasn't quite set without that stick," Berg said after the game. "I got a nice pass and was able to get the shot I wanted."
Down a goal, the Wolverines pushed hard for the equalizer but 20-year-old Christian Green made 4 sensational saves in a row to keep his team up 2-1.
Kostiuk's third point of the night would prove to be the dagger as while on another power play, he used a solid screen in front and wired home his 5th of the year to give Steinbach a 3-1 cushion. Gault notched his second assist of the game as did Brody Green.
Up by two, the Pistons worked the clock and even with a power play late and an empty net to go 6 on 5 after, the Wolverines never had much to build on as Steinbach locked down a solid 3-1 win.
Christian Green notched his 11th win of the year that ties him for the most wins but his record is the tops in the MJHL at 11-1. He also owns the top save percentage and goals against average in the league.
Steinbach's power play was vital to the victory going 2-4 while the penalty kill was strong again, finishing a tidy 5-6.
With the win, Steinbach has pushed their recent winning streak to 7 games and boast the MJHL's best record at 14-2-1, good for 29 points.
Steinbach will have back-to-back home games coming up on Friday vs the Winnipeg Freeze and Saturday against the Wolverines.