The Steinbach Pistons start on the road to repeating as Mantioba Junior Hockey League champions on Friday night as Game 1 is set vs the Winnipeg Blues at the TG Smith Centre.

The season series was deadlocked 3-3.

Here's how the two teams stack up heading into the first round.

Steinbach Pistons - 3rd - 39 wins 17 losses 4 overtime losses - 82 points

Team Stats

Power Play - 6th - 19.6% (49 goals in 250 opportunities)

Penalty Kill - 1st -  87% (39 goals agaisnst in 299 times shorthanded)

Goals For - 197

Goals Against - 127

Differential - +70

 Penalty Minutes - 1130

Top Scorers

F - Brendan Martin: 31g 27ast - 58 pts

F - Tyson McConnell: 20g 27ast - 47 pts

F - Boedey Vaeth: 18g 26ast - 44 pts

Goalie Stats

Matt Radomsky - 27-12-1

GAA: 2.06 - SV% .929 - 6 shutouts

Matt Lenz - 12-5-3

GAA: 2.10 - SV% .930 - 3 shutouts

 

Winnipeg Blues - 6th - 31 wins 22 losses 5 overtime losses - 69 points

Team Stats

Power Play - 5th - 20.2% (53 goals in 262 opportunities)

Penalty Kill - 2nd - 86.1% (34 goals against in 244 times short handed)

Goals For - 195

Goals Against - 182

Differential - +13

Penalty Minutes - 862

Top Scorers

F - Tony Apetagon: 29g 45ast - 74pts (combined with his time in OCN)

F - Braeden Binda: 20g 22ast - 42pts

F - James Maxwell: 18g 23ast - 41pts (combined with his time in OCN)

Goalie Stats

Jeremy Link - 26-16-2

GAA: 2.48 - SV% .931 - 4 shutouts

Jack Brandy - 5-6

GAA: 3.29 - SV% .892 - 0 shutouts

Steinbach vs Winnipeg Regular Season

October 2nd - Blues win 2-1.

Link makes 44 saves on the night including 19 in the second period.

Bodey Behun scores twice for the Blues, once on the power play. Steinbach's lone goal came from Brady Tatro.

December 7th - Pistons win 9-3

Easton Bennett, Tanner Mole and Brendan Martin all have two goal games.

Pistons score 4 goals inside the opening 10 minutes, chasing Link.

December 18th - Pistons win 1-0

Matt Lenz is perfect finishing with 27 saves in the shutout. Link makes 27 saves surrendering the lone goal with just over 5 minutes to go in the game.

Brendan Martin has the lone goal. 

December 21st - Blues win 4-2

Coby Stauss scores twice while Kelton Sutherland and Jayson Szun each have two assists. Link makes 48 saves.

Teams combined for 30 penalty's ranging from 2 minute minors to 10 minute misconducts.

January 12th - Blues win 3-1

Newcomers Darren Gisti and Tony Apetagon make impacts with their new teams scoring in their first games with the Blues.

Kyle Bettens struck for Steinbach.

January 26th - Pistons win 6-3

Kyle Bettens and Tyson McConnell both score twice while Troy Williams adds 3 assists.

Braden Binda has a two point night for Winnipeg. 

Playoff Series Schedule

03/08 - Game 1 - Blues @ Pistons - 7:30 pm TG Smith Centre, Steinbach

03/10 - Game 2- Pistons @ Blues - 6:00 pm Bell MTS Iceplex, Winnipeg

03/12 - Game 3 - Blues @ Pistons - 7:30 pm TG Smith Centre, Steinbach

03/14 - Game 4 - Pistons @ Blues - 7:00 pm Bell MTS Iceplex, Winnipeg

03/16 - Game 5 - if nessicary - Blues @ Pistons - 7:30 pm TG Smith Centre, Steinbach

03/18 - Game 6 - if nessicary - Pistons @ Blues - 7:00 pm Bell MTS Iceplex, Winnipeg

03/20 - Game 7 - if nessicary - Blues @ Pistons - 7:30 pm TG Smith Centre, Steinbach