The streak of points in 14 consecutive games came to an end on Sunday night as the Steinbach Pistons were dealt their first regulation loss of the season 2-1 by the OCN Blizzard.

Steinbach set out a goal for their 3 games in 3 night road trips to have better starts and in all three games, that's what they got including an excellent road opening period on Sunday. The Pistons were solid on the fore check and tight on the defensive zone break outs. While neither team had any glorious chances, both goalies were excellent in controlling rebounds and the first period ended 0-0.

In the second, things really got heated on a few occasions as there were dust ups and scrums after whistles resulting in numerous penalties for both sides. Steinbach's power play has fizzled of late but some good work from the special teams unit generated their goal on the man advantage. After piling up several big chances that had the arena buzzing, it was Ryan Carlson crashing to the front of the net off the point, tapping home his 3rd goal of the year with the assists to Tyler Anderson and Jordan Bochinski. The horn sounded and the Pistons took a 1-0 lead into the break. Shots in the period were 21-8 for the Pistons.

In the third, it was the Pistons that got into penalty trouble. Two quick minor penalties put the Pistons on a 5 on 3 hole and despite some excellent work from goalie Roman Bengert and the defensive unit, OCN found the back of the net to tie the game. With under a minute remaining, an offensive zone break down allowed the Blizzard to fire a loose puck past Bengert, sealing the win for OCN.

Head coach Paul Dyck knows that his team gave the game away on Sunday, giving the Pistons a 1-1-1 record on the three game trip. "We got 3 points (out of 6) but we should be going home with 5. This is a game we have to learn how to win. It's a learning experience and the guys will have to battle back but we need to learn how to close games like this out."

Captain Jordan Bochinski noted after the game that this Pistons team is one that takes losing personally. "In that way, it's good to see. We have a lot of competitiveness in the room here and obviously not losing for the first while of a season, guy's don't know how to lose here. So we'll look at the positives going forward. Playing against OCN in a hostile environment, will help us. Going into Winnipeg (Thursday night), just carry it forward. We're going to be initiators this week and that's our mentality going into it."

The Pistons finished 1-6 on the power play and 4-5 on the penalty kill. Shots on goal were heavily favoured in Steinbach's direction 41-19.

Steinbach will have a couple days to regroup before starting a 3 games in 4 night stretch. In Winnipeg vs the Blues on Thursday, at home against Virden Oil Capitals on Friday and then at home to the Waywayseecappo Wolverines on Sunday night.