It seemed like the Pistons and the Blues may need overtime to decide the winner of game 2 until an unlucky bounce with just over three minutes left helped Winnipeg even up the best of seven series 1-1 after a 3-2 win at Bell MTS Iceplex Sunday night.

Much like they did in game 1, the Pistons came out pretty strong in the first, stringing together a few hardworking shifts in a row. Their determination helped draw a penalty near the midway point of the first and it was Riese Gaber (2) who delivered, cashing in on an absolutely picture perfect wrister giving Steinbach a 1-0. Daniel McKitrick and Darby Gula had the assists on the power play goal.

The Blues would even things up off a perfect shot of their own as Kelton Sutherland went bar-down over the shoulder of Matthew Thiessen to tie up the game 1-1 after 1.

In the second, both teams had a steady stream to the penalty box and it was the Blues that converted on the man advantage as Levi Cudmore scored his sixth of the playoffs to give the Blues their first lead of the series, 2-1 after 40 minutes of play.

Just over two minutes into the third, Brendan Martin got Steinbach back on even ground as he tore around the Blues defender and drove the net with a purpose, snapping the puck over the pad and picking up his second goal of the playoffs to knot the game up 2-2. Gaber had the lone assist on the goal.

Steinbach had a chance to get out in front after the Blues took a penalty but were the Pistons were unable to capitalize.

The Blues used a lucky break late on a power-play of their own to grab a 3-2 lead. 

As the Pistons penalty was coming to an end, the Pistons ripped it around the glass to clear it out. The puck hit a stanchion near the corner and jetted out right to the waiting sick of Cudmore who scored his second goal of the game, another on the power-play with only 3:16 remaining in the game.

The Pistons got a power play late but couldn't score and then pulled their goalie to make it 6 on 5 but again, were turned away and as the horn sounded, both teams have picked up a win and now it's a best of 5 series heading back to Steinbach for game 3.

Thiessen was sharp, especially in the second period as he gave his team a chance to win the game making 28 saves total.

The power play finished a disappointing 1-7 while the penalty kill was burned twice to finish 3-5.

Coaches Notes

If there was one word, to sum up game 2 for the Pistons, Head coach Paul Dyck would say it was, frustrating. "It definitely was frustrating. We got on the board and then a lot of areas of our game we were disappointed in. I don't think we had everyone going tonight and that's a rare night for us, where we have as many passengers that we had tonight. Come playoff time, you gotta earn the wins and I don't think from top to bottom we were willing to pay that price tonight."

A couple guys did come away with strong performances, mainly Brendan Martin and Riese Gaber. "I thought both were going tonight. Gabes' shot, what a heck of a shot and then Marty's rush, we were talking about scoring exactly in that matter. He came down on his off wing and put it up over the pad. I thought those guys had a lot of jump, they were really hungry for loose pucks and they kept plays alive. We're going to need them here, so hopefully, they can build on that."

Losses happen, especially in the playoffs but the Pistons know that there is room to improve their own game now that the series is a best of 5. "I think we could be a little hungrier net front, we missed some chances that were very close and we put a lot of pucks towards the net again. The guys were disappointed tonight, not just with the outcome but the way we played for stretches. I believe we're going to come out and respond on Tuesday."

Up Next

Game 3 is set for Tuesday night in Steinbach.