Pistons blow out Winnipeg Blues

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/12/2018 (1959 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In an impressive offensive explosion, the Steinbach Pistons blew out the Winnipeg Blues 9-3 in Manitoba Junior Hockey League action Friday night in Steinbach.

The Pistons seemed to score at will in the opening 20, skating to a 5-0 first period lead.

Brendan Martin opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal three minutes after the opening face-off and he added a powerplay marker two minutes later, and the race was on. Those two quick opening goals, which set the tone for the game, were Martin’s league-leading 20th and 21st goals of the season.

Evan Kaufman then notched his first goal as a Pistons and Tanner Mole finished off the period with his 10th and 11th of the campaign. Max Neill, and then Easton Bennett with a pair, kept the scoring going for the Pistons in the second.

Boedey Vaeth, with his 13th of the season, completed the Pistons’ scoring parade in the third. Kyle Bettens and Declan Graham each picked up three assists on the night.

Matt Lenz, with his second straight start, stopped 30 of the 33 shots he faced in net for the Pistons, improving his record this season to 5-1-1 this season. Lenz is receiving more work these days as the veteran Matt Radomsky is competing for Team Canada West at the World Junior ‘A’ Challenge at Bonnyville, Alberta, which runs until Dec. 16.

With the win, the third place Pistons have now won four straight and are 20-9-1-0 on the season, just three points back of the second place Swan Valley Stampeders.

Next up for the Pistons is the MJHL Showcase next week in Winnipeg at the Seven Oaks Rec Centre as each team in the league will play two regular season games.

The Pistons will face the Neepawa Natives Monday at 4:00 p.m. and then the Virden Oil Capitals Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.