The Steinbach Pistons fell to the Virden Oil Capitals on Sunday night 4-2, evening up their best of seven second-round series at 1-1.

Things got off to a very positive start for Steinbach as they managed to get on the board in the opening minute of the game.

Quinton Pepper forced a turnover at the Oil Caps blue line before flipping a pass to a streaking Braden Birnie who chipped it up and in for his 5th of the playoffs. 

It remained 1-0 until the final minute of the period when the Oil Caps got the equalizer, cashing in a rebound off a point shot to make it 1-1 through 20 minutes.

Virden owned much of the puck, the territory, and the pace of the second period as they outworked the Pistons in all three zones. Eventually, it paid off with a goal to take a 2-1 lead into the final period of regulation.

That lead would grow in the opening minutes of the third. While on the power play, Virden struck again to go up 3-1.

Steinbach started to show some fight after going down two in the final period of regulation.

They managed to convert on a power play of their own as once again, it was Birnie who scored off a wonder cross-ice pass from Zach Power to cut the lead to 3-2. Jackson Betcher also picked up an assist on the goal.

As pressure mounted against Virden, the crowd and energy level started to ramp up giving the home team some momentum as they looked to tie the game.

With things tilting Steinbach's way, Virden managed to chip a puck out of their zone, race into Steinbach territory, and fire a shot home to make it a 4-2 game.

The goal sucked the life out of the building and the Pistons couldn't manage to get back despite a couple of goal-crease scrambles. 

Time ticked away and the Oil Caps managed a split of the first two games as the series is knotted up at a 1-1.

Will Hambley was saddled with the loss, making 23 saves in the game including 15 in the second period alone.

Steinbach's power play went 1-2 while the penalty kill was 3-4.

The series now shifts to Tundra Oil and Gas Place in Virden for game 3 on Wednesday night and followed by game 4 on Thursday. Both games 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.