Hub game recap

It was a battle of the power plays as both the Steinbach Pistons and OCN Blizzard traded man-advantage goals but at the end of the game, it was Steinbach's ability to score 5 on 5 that improved their early season record to 4-0 with a 4-2 victory.

A very quick pace opened the hockey game as both teams were playing as if they had dinner plans. Few whistles but also few chances early as much of the play was stuck in the neutral zone.

OCN got on the board first with a power play goal to put them up 1-0 with about six and half minutes remaining in a fast-moving opening period.

Just over a minute later, Leo Chambers answered back after a good, hardworking forecheck freed up the puck in the corner, Nick Mikan dished off to Chambers who went full on sneak attack, firing a quick shot right through the Blizzard goalie who wasn't expecting a shot and in the blink of an eye, it's 1-1.

Pistons outshot the Blizzard 16-10 in the opening period but the score stayed even at 1-1.

A too many men on the ice penalty in the final seconds of the first would come back to bite the Pistons early in the second as the Blizzard popped in a second power-play goal to restore their lead, 2-1 just 14 seconds into the middle frame.

After surrendering two power-play goals, it was Steinbach's turn to strike with the man-advantage.

Davis Fry scored in his fourth consecutive game as the dynamic sniper took a cross-zone pass from Nate Goodbrandson and fired home the tying goal, 2-2. Warren Clark also notched an assist.

After a back-and-forth first period, Steinbach really started to take over and wear down the Blizzard with shift after shift of relentless puck pursuit and pressure.

Towards the end of the period on another power-play, it was the local boy Ty Paisley that brought fans to their feet as the 18-year-old drove wide, faked like he was going around the net but instead chipped the puck over the shoulder of the goalie, and under the bar to make it 3-2. 

Paisley's second of the year was assisted by Clark, who now has three points in his last two games, as well as Travis Hensrud.

Twenty seconds into the third, Hensrud converted on a pass from Fry for his third goal of the year, giving Steinbach a 4-2 lead. Paisley also picked up a helper giving the top line of Fry, Paisley, and Hensrud a combined six points on the night.

Neither team would find the back of the net again, although newcomer, 20-year-old Daniel O'Neill who was making his Pistons debut, came close as a backhander was tracking toward the empty net in the final minutes but just managed to sail wide.

Cole Plowman, starting goalie for Steinbach, wasn't overly tested through much of the second or third period but the 19-year-old did make a few key saves down the stretch, preserving the lead and keeping Steinbach undefeated to start the year.

Plowman finished with 24 saves for his 4th straight win.

Steinbach's power play finished 2-4 while the penalty kill took a hit, surrendering 2 goals on 3 times shorthanded. 

The Selkirk Steelers come to the TG Smith Centre for an afternoon battle at 2:30 pm on Sunday. The game will be broadcast on DABroadcasting.Mixlr.com.