The Steinbach Pistons have stumbled a bit out of the gate losing their first two games of the season each by a single goal.

Party Crashed

On Friday night, the Pistons opened their regular season by unveiling two banners, one for the Turnbull Championship and one for the ANAVET Cup Championship.

The celebration was not meant to last.

The Waywayseecappo Wolverines came in and outworked and outhustled the Pistons in all three zones and eventually it was the Wolverines coming away with a 3-2 win.

After a scoreless first, the Wolverines were able to earn a 3-0 lead by turning pucks over, forcing penalties and capitalizing on their chances.

Steinbach was able to get back into the game on a power play when Troy Williams fired a wrister that found the back of the net to make it 3-1. Curtis Ireland and Tyson McConnell had the assists on the goal.

McConnell would get the Pistons within striking distance on another power play as he found a loose puck and backhanded it home to make it 3-2. Williams and Ireland had the assists.

Steinbach had their chances in the third but the score didn't change and it resulted in the first Waywayseecappo win in Steinbach in 7 years.

Matt Radomsky was tagged for the loss but gave his team a chance making 26 saves on the night. Steinbach's power play was 2-7 while the penalty kill was 3-4. 

After the game, Paul Dyck had a simple message for his players. "We're not the 2017-2018 Steinbach Pistons," the head coach said from the press box after the arena had cleared out. "We need to realize how we need to play and how we're going to be successful. Guys need to be prepared to work, nothing's going to come easy."

Road Woes

The effort level increased across the board on Saturday night but still, the result was not what the Pistons were looking for as they fell 2-1 to the Selkirk Steelers.

Both teams had their chances in the opening 20 minutes but neither team could find the back of the net. Matt Radomsky for Steinbach and Zach Bennett for Selkirk each made 13 saves.

In the second, a hard-working shift from the line of Brady Tatro, Tanner Mole and Easton Bennett resulted in the opening goal when Mole went crashing towards the net, used his size to block out the defender and stuffed home a loose puck to make it 1-0 Pistons. Tatro and Declan Graham had the assists.

Selkirk tied the game just over halfway through the period and then used a 5 on 3 to grab the lead for good as the period ended 2-1 Selkirk.

Radomsky was called on a few times to keep his team in it, which he did.

The offence did have their chances and a few pucks managed to make their way past Bennett but somehow stayed out of the net.

Shots were even 35-35 as the Pistons power play stalled finishing 0-5 while the penalty kill was 6-7.

Up Next

A week of practice will do the Pistons well. A chance for new players to mesh with each other on and off the ice. Timing was an issue in the first two games but veterans feel it's a matter of time until they all get into sync. 

Steinbach travels to Winkler on Friday night before welcoming in the Dauphin Kings to the TG Smith on Saturday night.

Player To Watch

The most impressive player on the ice was Brandon Westbrook. Had a couple chances offensively, was solid on the backcheck, used his body to play physical and drew a couple penalties and was singled out for praise by his coaches and teammates numerous times over the weekend

Westbrook will quickly become a fan favourite if he continues to play this way. And there's no indication that his game will be changing any time soon.