The Steinbach Pistons started their 2019-2020 playoff run with a 3-1 win over the Winnipeg Blues on Friday night to grab a 1-0 series lead.

Being at home gave the Pistons an early boost as they hit the scoreboard first.

As the Blues goalie went out to play the puck behind the net, he was tracked down by Rylan Bettens who forced the turnover and found Codey Behun all alone in front with a wide open net and the 19-year-old former Winnipeg Blue opened things up with his first of the post-season.

Steinbach continued to push while holding Winnipeg to very little in the way of offensive opportunity. When the Blues did get something towards the, Matt Lenz was there to keep it out, including a fabulous save as he absolutely robbed 

Shots were heavily in Steinbach's favor 11-3 after twenty minutes and they took that 1-0 lead into the intermission.

In the second, shots was the name of the game.

For one team at least.

Steinbach continued to pepper the Blues with shots. Point shots, in tight shots, good shots, sharp angle shots. They threw every puck towards the net.

Winnipeg on the other hand, couldn't manage a single shot until there was around two minutes remaining in the period.

It remained 1-0 through 40 with shots 25-8 for the first place team in the MJHL.

The Blues kept hanging around, hanging around and with less than twenty seconds into the third, they managed to tie the game on a rebound to knot things up 1-1.

A power play gave Steinbach a chance to grab the lead and they took full advantage.

Declan Graham corralled a puck at the blueline, got ready, aimed and fired a put right along the ice that deflected off a skate in front and in for the captains first of the playoffs as his team grabbed a 2-1 lead.

Again, the Blues pushed back but Lenz came up with his best save of the night.

A shot from the point made it through a bit of traffic in front and it was perfectly deflected by the leading scorer for the Blues but Lenz tracked the tip perfectly and made not only a spectacular, sound save but put the rebound into the corner.

Thanks to Lenz, it remained 2-1 Steinbach into the final minute when the Pistons Rylan Bettens put the game away as he fired a shot into the empty net. Tanner Mole and Graham had the assists on the final goal of the night.

With it 3-1 Pistons, the time ticked away and Steinbach skated away with a game 1 victory to take the first game of round one.

The power play finished 1-3 while the penalty kill was a perfect 2-2.

Shots were closer in the third and finished 39-19 Steinbach.

Coach Dyck was pleased overall with his team but wanted to praise a few unsung hero's on the night. "(Christian) Riemer was tremendous today. So big and strong on the wall. He skates so well, he's got a powerful stride. I'm not shocked, he's played so well for us down the stretch. You just look at him and know he's a playoff type player."

Graham, Lenz and the Behun line also impressed the coach as did the penalty kill. 

Coach Dyck is looking forward to Sunday as he believes his team as more to show and room to improve. "I didn't like our execution at times today. I thought their goalie saw a lot of pucks, we didn't make it too difficult for him, we need to create chaos around him. We were perimeter-ish at times. You know what? It's a little bit of nerves. For some guys, it's their first playoff game and now they realize it's really not that different. The games are more important obviously but like I told them prior to the game, it's just another game, another hockey game we want to win."

Game 2 is Sunday afternoon in Winnipeg, 2:00 pm with the pre-game show at 1:45 pm on MIX 96 and SteinbachOnline.com.