Pistons easy pickings for Stampeders

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This article was published 27/03/2019 (1848 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It was a case of too little too late for Steinbach Pistons Wednesday night in Steinbach as they fell 4-2 to the Swan Valley Stampeders in game three of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League semi-finals.

The Stampeders now lead the best of seven series 2-1, with the two teams going at again tonight (Thursday) at 7:30 p.m. in Steinbach.

Tonight’s game is not yet a must-win situation for the Pistons, but if not, it is a near must-win situation. Because, should the Pistons lose tonight they would be faced with the prospect of going back to Swan River on Saturday for game five in the series, down 3-1.

But the good news, down 4-0 in last night’s game, they generated some momentum in the third period and the task will be to carry that forward into tonight’s game.

The Pistons got off to a horrible start in last night’s game as the Stampeders scored three times in the first period, twice on the powerplay as Josh Tripp, Tucker Scantlebury and Kasyn Kruse all beat Matt Radomsky in the period.

Matthew Osadick made it 4-0 Swan Valley in the second and the Pistons finally hit the board early in the third on a goal by Nico Labossiere. Brendan Martin then narrowed the Swan Valley lead to 4-2 as he scored his fourth goal of the post-season midway through the final frame.

The Pistons were on their heels much of the night partly due penalty problems as the at time undisciplined Pistons were killing off penalties frequently. The Stampeders had a dozen powerplay opportunities on the night. Swan Valley outshot the Pistons 39-28.

In the other semi-final series, the pennant-winning Portage Terriers have opened up a commanding 3-0 lead on the fifth place Virden Oil Capitals. Game four in that series will be played tonight in Virden.

Once again game time tonight (Thursday) for game four of the Steinbach-Swan Valley series is at 7:30 p.m. at the T.G. Smith Centre in Steinbach.

The series then goes back to Swan River for game five Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and returns to Steinbach, if necessary, for game six Monday at 7:30 p.m.