While their winning streak was stopped on Friday night, the Steinbach Pistons got back into the win column with a 5-2 win over the Neepawa Natives on Sunday night at the TG Smith Centre. 

The coaching staff challenged the players to come out with a higher level of compete and they did just that controlling play for several stretches inside the Neepawa zone.

The Natives did push back and forced Piston's goalie Matt Radomsky to make a couple of nice saves keeping things even until the Natives were gifted a power play. With the man advantage, a point shot deflected off a couple of legs in front and found it's way past Radomsky for a 1-0 lead. Jordan Martin was given credit for the goal that broke Radomskys shutout streak at close to 200 minutes.

The offence picked things up after surrendering that opening goal and tied the game when Bradley Schoonbaert scored his 25th of the year from Drew Worrad and Austin Heidemann to make it 1-1.

It didn't stay tied very long.

Only 18 seconds after the Schoonbaert goal, Worrad batted a puck out of mid-air and over the shoulder of the Natives goalie for his 16th of the season. Schoonbaert and Heidemann had assists on the 2-1 goal as the top line combined for 6 points in less than 20 seconds of hockey.

Before the period came to a close, another hard-working shift resulted in a Piston's goal when Daniel McKitrick buried his 16th of the year from Jack Johnson and Braden Purtill to make it 3-1 heading into the first intermission. 

In the second, after a lot of neutral zone play where neither team was able to generate much offensively, the Pistons broke away on a two on one as Worrad and Johnson went in the odd man rush. Worrad held the puck and dragged both a defender and the goalie towards him then slide the puck to Johnson who had a wide-open net for his 11th of the year. Tanner Mole picked up an assist on the 4-1 goal. 

Neepawa cut into the lead as two players were tied up behind the Neepawa net, the play was allowed to continue without a whistle and the Natives took advantage cashing in on a 3 on 2 rush to make it 4-2 thanks to Braden Binda.

In the final period of regulation, Steinbach clamped down defensively while the final goal of the night came off the stick of Brady Tatro who wristed one right through the glove of the Natives goalie for his 12th of the year to make it 5-2. Darby Gula had the lone assist.

The horn sounded and the Pistons walked away with a 5-2 win.

Radomsky had a very solid night between the pipes making 18 saves including a couple of tricky deflections and a few that came off turnovers.

The power play went 0-3 (the first two power plays the Pistons had were a combined 13 seconds because of either taking a penalty themselves or the fact they drew one shorthanded) and the penalty kill was solid finishing 5-6.

Heeeeeere's Johnny! 

Jack Johnson had a goal and an assist on the night and admits to having another gear after being out of the lineup of late. "I played with a chip on my shoulder. I mean, I don't enjoy being out of the lineup and I was out there to prove something. I felt I did and with the help of my linemates, I got back into the swing of things."

Johnson also talked about what his team needs to continue doing to be successful as the season continues on. "Just play simple. Play fast. That's what we do best. It's an easy game when we move our feet and keep things fast. We do that, we're a tough team to beat."

Coaches Notes

Head coach Paul Dyck praised his team for responding coming off that loss on Friday. "I thought we came out the first three minutes with the pace we were looking for. I don't think anyone was happy with our game the other night, it's not like we played poorly but we weren't as crisp and the intensity wasn't at the level we were hoping for but I think it was there today."

No one likes to surrender the first goal but a major positive was the team's reaction. "You could tell on the bench there was no frustration. We felt we had a lot of time left and we responded well. Those things will happen but from that point forward, I felt we took control."

Jack Johnson got back into the lineup after missing 3 games and his coach was impressed with what he saw. "I really liked Jacks game, might have been one of his best of the year. He kept things simple, used his vision, executed and competed away from the puck. A really good game for him tonight."

One thing the coach wants to see cleaned up was the passes out of the zone. "A lot of it was avoidable, we were overhandling pucks. Our first option was there and we didn't use it then we faced secondary pressure. We'll have a chance to watch the video but I thought the support was there. I think it's a matter of better decision making but worst case scenario, we need to keep gaining lines and clearing the zone."

On The Road Again

The Pistons travel to take on the Winkler Flyers on Tuesday night and Coach Dyck knows the Flyers will be ready for the task. "It doesn't matter how they're playing of late, they'll be motivated. The games are always tight. The weekend didn't quite go as planned for them so we know we're going to have to be at our best."