Pistons hang on to beat Blizzard

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This article was published 09/12/2017 (2322 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Steinbach Pistons won a pair of games at home this weekend to widen their lead atop the Manitoba Junior Hockey League standings.

An 8-2 victory over the Neepawa Natives on Friday and a narrow 4-3 triumph over the OCN Blizzard on Saturday has moved the Piston’s league best record to 23-7-1-0, five points ahead of the second place Winkler Flyers.

In last night’s win over the Blizzard, with a 1,000 fans on hand at the T.G. Smith Centre, the Pistons skated to a 2-0 first period and widened that advantage to 3-0 early in the second and led 3-1 after 40 minutes as the Pistons never trailed in the game. It was a chippy third period between the two rivals with 18 penalties in the final frame alone.

Braden Purtill paced the Pistonsn with a goal and two assists, including his 20th goal of the campaign. Rounding out the Steinbach scoring was Tyson McConnell and singles by a pair of defenceman, including Jack Lenchyshyn, with his first of the year, and Darby Gula, the highest scoring rearguard in the league, with his ninth. Gula has 34 points in 28 games this season.

League scoring leader Bradley Schoonbaert had one assist in the game as he ran his points total to 54 in 31 games this season, and a five-point lead on Dexter Kuczek of the Blues. Purtill is third with 46 points.

The Pistons outshot the Blizzard 40-24 as Matt Radomsky picked up the win nets for the Pistons.

On Friday, the Pistons built up a 4-0 lead in the first period and coasted to an 8-2 triumph over the Natives.

It was team captain Braden Purtill who led the way for the Pistons with two goals and an assist. Adding singles were Darby Gula, Mark Taraschuk, Austin Heidemann, Bradley Schoonbart, Brady Tatro and Will Koop, while Drew Worrad picked up three assists in the night.

Matthew Thiessen made 18 saves minding the twine for the Pistons.

Next up the Pistons will play two games at the MJHL Showcase this week at Bell MTS Iceplex. The Pistons will go up against the Swan Valley Stampeders Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. and then the Dauphin Kings Wednesday at 3:00 p.m.