The opening round series between the Steinbach Pistons and the Selkirk Steelers is tied up at a game apiece after the Steelers handed the Pistons a 3-1 loss on Sunday night.

Coming off a game which they won but didn't like their effort to close the contest, Steinbach was hoping to come out of the gate strong but instead, spun their wheels unable to find any traction.

A pair of minor penalties put Steinbach down 5 on 3 for almost a full minute. 

Shorthanded, the Pistons held the fort and managed to kill off both penalties and keep it 0-0.

While nothing was really happening offensively, for the most part, the Pistons held the Steelers in check defensively through the first half of the period.

Neither team had much zone time or sustained puck control. 

Selkirk did manage to cash in after finally creating some pressure in the Pistons zone as a point shot was tipped in giving the Steelers their first lead in the series, 1-0.

The game would stay that way heading into intermission.

In the second, Steinbach started to put together a couple of shifts and the momentum started to swing in their direction. 

Back-to-back strong shifts put the Steelers on their heels and it would be Bryce Kilbourne who would capitalize.

Jack Rogers started the play by winning a puck battle at his own blue line, flipping a pass to Cooper Rice who tore off into Selkirk territory. The defenceman Kilbourne joined the rush and it was almost like he was invisible as none of the Steelers defenders paid attention to him. Kilbourne drove to the net, received a sweet pass from Rice, faked forehand before going backhand upstairs to tie the game 1-1.

It looked as though Steinbach had started to roll but after the goal, the Pistons couldn't keep the momentum going. 

They outshot Selkirk in the period 13-3 but the game went 1-1 into the intermission.

A rare defensive breakdown would give the Steelers the lead as the Pistons got caught running around, allowing the Steelers to play keep-away with the puck until finally putting it in front where it was deflected in to give them the lead, 2-1.

As Steinbach looked for the equalizer, goalie Will Hambley was making his way to the bench for the extra attacker. With the net empty, the Steelers fired the puck into the open cage to put the game away 3-1.

The best of 7 opening-round series is tied at a 1-1.

Steinbach outshot Selkirk 29-23 for the game. The power play was 0-5 while the penalty kill was 4-4.

Game 3 goes Friday night at the TG Smith Centre in Steinbach. The game broadcast will begin at 7:15 pm with the pre-game show and puck drop set for 7:30 pm.