The Steinbach Pistons allowed three unanswered goals in the first period, which proved to be the difference as the Winnipeg Blues went on to win 3-1 at the MTS Iceplex.  

Both teams came into Thursday night's game on a three game losing streak. Steinbach needed to win to keep pace with the final playoff positioned teams, meanwhile Winnipeg needed to win to re-establish themselves as the best team in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

Emotions boiled over in the first period when Matthew Francyzk laid a clean open ice hit on Blues tough guy Dylan Kelly. Steinbach captain Cole Brunet talked about the teams' reaction after the hit, "Everybody got fired up, it gave us some life and some extra jump, but not enough jump."

Kelly quickly ended the momentum swing when he put his team on the scoreboard first with his twentieth goal of the season on the power play at 11:54 of the first period. Jeff Borse added his eighth and Paul Bonar his fifth goal of the season before the first period came to a close.

The Pistons did capitalize on a power play opportunity in the second period when Cole Brunet set up Piston goal leader Brett Fargher for a one timer at the bottom of the right circle for his fourteenth of the season. 

Steinbach came into Thursday's game with only four of their regular defensemen. Kyle Rous is out because of a wrist injury, and Drew Scurfield was a late scratch because of the flu. That forced Dennis Bosc to play defense for the second straight game. The Pistons also called up Danys Chartrand from the AAA Midget Winnipeg Wild.  

The Pistons defensive situation got even more questionable when Taylor Friesen got a five minute major and a game misconduct for a high hit on Winnipeg Blues captain Jeff Borse. That left the Pistons with only three of their regular blue liners for over half the game.

Zachary Rakochy kept the game close making 28 saves with most of those coming while the Pistons killed off six of seven penalties.

The Pistons now have a few days off before they get ready to travel to Waywayseecappo, to face off against the Wolverines. Brunet talks about what they need to do to win, "We have to keep it simple when we are on the road like that, we just got to dump it in and get our legs going, put the pucks on net, I'm sure any guy would like a greasy road win."

Puck drop at the Waywayseecappo Recreational Facility is this Saturday at 7:30pm.

Piston Notes

This was the second game the Pistons skated out without Mark Owen in the lineup. Owen decided to quit the team, and has asked to be traded to a contender. Owen has only been a Piston for a month, he came over in the trade that sent Russel Trudeau to the Melville Millionaires. The Pistons coaching staff has not been able to move Owen at this time. 

Kyle Rous' doesn't look like he will be back from his broken wrist until January. He hasn't been able to catch a break this season only playing 20 of the Pistons 34 games.

Dennis Bosc has been enjoying the opportunity to play on the Pistons blue line while Rous has sat in the stands. Bosc has been ready and willing to suit up at any position to help the team.

The Winnipeg Blues have beaten the Steinbach Pistons 6 times this season outscoring them  34 - 12. The Pistons worst loss was back on Nov19th when they lost 11 - 3 at the TG Smith Centre.