It was another wild game that went right down to the wire but the Steinbach Pistons managed to hold on and defeat the Dauphin Kings 5-4 in regulation on Friday night.
Coming off a few days between games, early in the first the Pistons looked a bit off. Passes were not crisp, the skating legs were not there and that allowed Dauphin to come up with a couple of good looks but each one was turned away.
With around six minutes left in the first, the Kings were awarded a power play. After working the puck around the offensive zone, they set up the chance they were looking for, what looked to be a backdoor tap in but Steinbach's Christian Green kicked out his right leg and made a spectacular save, keeping the game scoreless.
Steinbach used the momentum from that save to score twice in the span of 31 seconds.
First it was the MJHL leading scorer Connor Paronuzzi who took a pass from Grady Hoffman, walked into the zone and like he's watched Hoffman do several times this year, took a page from his book and leaned into a heavy wrister that snuck through the Kings goalie and in for his 26th of the season. Noah Szabo also picked up an assist as the Captain started the play off with a strong exit out of his own zone.
Paronuzzi would factor in again as the playmaker busted up the ice and through the Kings defenders along the boards. Having run out of room, he put a perfect area pass for a hard charging Shane Burns to skate into. The defender, who busted his behind from his own zone all the way past the Kings defenders and in on a partial breakaway, made no mistake scoring his 5th of the season, putting the home side up 2-1.
For Burns, it was his first goal since returning to Steinbach a couple of weeks ago and his first MJHL goal since mid-December.
It looked as though Steinbach had extended the lead but a couple of big time saves by the Kings netminder kept his team close and the score stayed 2-0 heading into the intermission.
The second period looked similar to much of the first with the Kings controlling for stretches thanks in large part to Steinbach's mishandling of the puck in their own zone. Time after time, the Pistons bobbled pucks, over skated plays or simply made bad passes, allowing the Kings to get some chances but they could not convert.
Despite the pressure against, it would be Steinbach that celebrated the next goal.
Sam Zagari continued his red hot play of late as the 20-year-old drove to the front of the net and after a Hoffman chance was stopped, Zagari was there to knock home the rebound for his 13th of the season. Szabo once again picked up an assist as he kept the play alive at the blueline.
For Zagari, it was goal number seven as a Piston in just his 15th game. He scored six goals in 35 games with the team he was previously with before Steinbach acquired him at the trade deadline.
A power play for Steinbach looked as though it would be the opportunity to put a real nail in the Kings but an ill-advised minor against quickly into the man advantage cut things to 4-on-4.
Another penalty called against the Pistons would put them down 4-on-3 then 5-on-3 for a short stretch.
The penalty kill managed to get through both of those without any damage against, keeping it 3-0.
However, another questionable penalty call would finally gift the Kings the chance to get on the board and they took advantage, scoring on the power play to cut the lead to 3-1.
Like they've done several times throughout the year, the Pistons took their foot off the gas towards the end of a period and once again, it would come back to bite them as Dauphin scored with just 22 seconds left in the second to cut the game to 3-2.
The third period produced some wild swings for both sides.
After having a steady dose of power plays, it was the Kings turn to cut a path to the penalty box.
Quick puck movement around the Kings zone had the defenders running around and a great pass from Paronuzzi found Hoffman across the ice and the 19-year-old sniper made no mistake, scoring his 17th of the year to extend the lead to 4-2. Captain Szabo collected his third assist of the night while Paronuzzi moved his season total up to 83.
After a long stretch of not a lot happening, Dauphin put one toward the goal that deflected off a Piston in front, hit the crossbar and managed to just get over the line, making it a one-goal game again, 4-3.
Apparently, banks are open late in La Broquerie on Friday nights as the Pistons returned the favour with one of their own just over a minute later.
Ty Paisley got the play started as the big power forward chipped a puck from center then used his size and speed to get to the puck even though there were five Kings players in position to stop him, none of them could, demonstrating that when the 20-year-old is moving his feet and physically engaged, there's few teams in the league that can stop him from doing what he wants, if any at all.
After the good dump in and great work to get the puck down low, he moved it to Ryan McDonald who tried to his a streaking Brayden Barnett going to the net but the puck hit off a King and went in, bringing Steinbach back up by two, 5-3.
McDonald's 11th of the year was assisted by Paisley and 20-year-old defender Matt "Money" Munro, who was sporting a full bubble after taking a puck to the face the other day which produced a cut under his eye.
Exactly two-minutes was left on the clock when the Kings would bring the game back to within one but that's as close as they would get. Steinbach held the fort in the final seconds and came out with an ugly but needed two points in a 5-4 win.
Christian Green was solid throughout the game, picking up his 30th win. He becomes the 4th goalie in Pistons history with 30 wins, joining the ranks along side Cole Plowman from last season, Roman Bengert and Nick Deery.
Steinbach's power play went 1-6 while the penalty kill was massive going a strong 5-6.
Another home game awaits on Saturday night as the Virden Oil Capitals will come to HyLife Centre. Virden will be hungry for points coming off a couple of tough losses and combined with the win by Waywayseecappo Friday, now sit a point out of the final playoff spot in the West Division.
Game time in La Broquerie is 7:00 PM.