It took a total team effort, a beautiful shot from an elite forward and some massively key saves late in the game as the Steinbach Pistons walked into Portage and handed the Terriers their third straight loss, 2-1 on Friday night.

Steinbach headed into the contest short-handed as four forwards were out due to various injuries but even going into the match with only 10 forwards (down from the usual 12), they weren't about to throw themselves a pity party. They got right to work and started the game with several strong shifts in a row.

The message from the staff prior to the game was to put pucks towards the net and that's exactly what led to the Pistons first goal.

Mid-way into the first, Zach Purcell grabbed a loose puck from the side boards and darted towards the net, firing a shot towards the goal. The puck deflected off a stick and managed to make it over the Portage goalie to make it 1-0 Steinbach. For Purcell, it was his third goal of the year. David Queree had the lone assist on the only goal scored in the period.

In the second, Steinbach's Codey Behun scored an absolute beauty of a goal after showing incredible skill in all three zones.

First, Behun won a defensive zone face off, giving his team puck control. After a couple of passes to break out, Behun picked up the puck and sped through the neutral zone and blazed a trail right into the offensive zone where he unleashed a perfect wrister that went off the cross bar, top corner for his sixth goal of the year. The 2-0 marker was assisted by Evan Kaufman and Purcell, who finished off a tidy two point night.

Portage managed to cut into the lead before the period was over as they cashed in on a power play to make it 2-1 after forty.

Cue the Matt Lenz show.

In the third, Portage threw everything they could at the Pistons but the team stood strong, highlighted by a masterful job by Queree on the penalty kill (at one point, he had the puck in the Terriers end with five Terrier players around him and still managed to kill 30 seconds of the penalty), a big block by Declan Graham and Lenz who was beyond sensational.

Of the 14 saves he made in the period, Lenz saved his best and most dramatic for last.

After a penalty was called with just over two minutes remaining in the game that put the Pistons down a man, Portage pulled their goalie making it a 6 on 4 advantage for the home side. Terriers had puck control and really put the pressure on trying to find the equalizer. Their best chance came came on a backdoor pass that looked like it had game tying goal written all over it but Lenz was able to get across with a strong push and get a blocker on the shot, saving the best chance Portage had all night.

Seconds later, another shot would come but it just missed, going high over the net. The Pistons man was freed from the box and they managed to kill the final seconds of the period to come away with a strong 2-1 win on the road.

The power play continues to struggle badly as they finished 0-7 on the night and didn't have much in the way of chances but the penalty kill was very, very strong finishing 3-4 against the top power play in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

Steinbach will have a week off and not be in action again until Friday, November 1st when the Dauphin Kings come to town. The game is a make-up game that was postponed earlier in the year. Any fans that had tickets to the original game can use them for the make-up game on Friday.