The Steinbach Pistons were the better team through much of game four against the Virden Oil Capitals but it was the Oil Caps that took advantage of a third-period power play to win 2-1, knotting up the series 2-2.

Coming off a thrilling overtime game the night before, both teams came out a little more cautious to start the contest.

Virden found their legs first and began to work Steinbach in the defensive zone. The Pistons were pressured and were forced into a number of turnovers, giving the Oil Caps a couple of good chances to get on the board.

With under six minutes played in the first, it was the home side that got the opening goal as Virden led 1-0.

After the goal, Steinbach started to find their stride and started to take the period over.

Chances started to pile up. A number of pucks beat the goalie but clanked off the post or crossbar as the Oil Capitals clung to that one-goal lead.

A power-play opportunity didn't amount to a goal but it did give Steinbach some momentum which they used to eventually tie the game.

Quinton Pepper picked up a puck in the neutral zone, bulldozed his way into Virden territory, and ripped a shot that fooled the goalie for his second goal in as many games. Bryce Kilbourne picked up the lone helper and the teams went into the break tied 1-1.

The second period was dominated by the Pistons early as they outworked and out-chanced the Oil Caps through much of the period. Despite outshooting Virden 12-5 in the period, it remained 1-1 through forty.

Things evened out a bit in the third as both teams looked for that opportunity to take the lead.

Steinbach was called for a penalty with just under five minutes played in the final frame and the Oil Caps used that man advantage to build momentum. They worked the puck around the zone, looking for an opening. They thought they had one as a cross-ice pass froze the Pistons penalty killers but didn't freeze goalie Simon Harkness who came across the crease with a beautiful pad save.

Steinbach couldn't clear the zone, however, and just a few seconds later, a seeing-eye point shot found its way through traffic and in to put Virden ahead 2-1.

Searching for the equalizer, the Pistons pushed but couldn't get it back to even as time ran out and the Oil Caps evened up the series at two games a piece.

Steinbach's power play finished 0-2 despite a couple of really good looks which included hitting a crossbar. The penalty kill got dinged at the end, going 2-3.

Harkness was saddled with the loss. He finished the night with 31 saves.

It's now a best of 3 series with it shifting back to the TG Smith Centre on Saturday night. The game will be broadcast on MIX 96 and SteinbachOnline.com with the pre-game show at 7:15 pm and puck drop at 7:30 pm.