The Steinbach Pistons pushed their winning streak into the double digits after back to back wins over the Selkirk Steelers.

Putting In Extra Work Saturday Night

Coming off the Chrisms break, the Pistons battled for a 3-2 overtime win in front of their home fans at the TG Smith Centre on Saturday night.

Both teams showed a bit of rust as neither side scored in the opening 20 minutes of play.

In the second, Piston's goalie made an unbelievable save going post to post and denying the Steelers the opening goal. Thiessen couldn't help but smile about the save after the game. "I just tried to anticipate it." The Altona native said outside the Pistons lockerroom. "I saw where the guy was and just made the pushover and was able to get a piece of it."

The scoring did start when Steinbach's Brady Tatro took a pass in the neutral zone, skated his was in and unleashed a devastating wrist shot that found it's way to the back of the net for the forwards 11th of the year. Tanner Mole had the lone assist on the opening marker.

The lead didn't last long as less than a minute later, Nate Halvorsen scored for Selkirk to tie the game at 1-1.

Steinbach captured the lead again when Tyson McConnell found a loose puck in front of the net and buried his 14th of the season. McConnell's power-play goal was assisted by Braden Purtill and made it 2-1 Steinbach.

The Pistons held the lead heading into the third but it quickly dissipated when the Steelers Halvorsen scored his second of the game just :32 seconds into the final period of regulation. 

After 60 minutes, the game was deadlocked 2-2 and headed for overtime.

3 on 3 produced a few moments that had fans on the edge of their seat. Pistons forward Daniel McKitrick (14) sent the home fans home happy when he snapped a wrist shot top corner for his 14th goal and the 3-2 Pistons win.

Thiessen was solid making 21 saves. The power play was 1-5 while the penalty kill was 1-2.

Radomsky Remains Perfect 

On Sunday, the Pistons continued their winning ways led by goalie Matt Radomsky who made 26 saves on route to his 3rd consecutive shutout in a 5-0 win.

Much like on Sunday, both Selkirk and Steinbach used the first period to size each other up.

It looked as though Steinbach got on the board in the opening period when Bradley Schoonbaert slipped one past the Steelers netminder. However, the referee deemed that the puck went off Schoonbaert's skate in a kicking motion and waved off the goal.

After 20 minutes, neither team found the back of the net and went into the break 0-0.

In the second, with a two-man advantage, Braden Purtill scored his 23rd goal of the year from Mark Taraschuk and Drew Worrad to give Steinbach the 1-0 lead.

Later in the frame, a good dump and chase from Austin Heidemann gave Steinbach control down in the Selkirk corner, Heidemann played it up along the boards to a waiting Tyson McConnell. McConnell battled through a couple of Steelers checks and found Declan Graham at the point who then snapped a perfect pass to a streaking Brendan Martin for the 2-0 goal. Martin now has 8 goals on the year. 

In the third, the scoring continued when Purtill notched his second of the game when Will Koop fired a pass off his skate to make it 3-0. Purtill's goal was his 24th of the year.

Daniel McKitrick picked up his second goal in as many games when the Steelers committed a horrible turnover at their own blueline that sent the forward in all alone and he made no mistake for his 15th of the year and a 4-0 Steinbach lead.

Schoonbaert did get a measure of revenge when he converted on a picture perfect 3 on 2 rush to make it 5-0. Schoonbaert is now tied with Purtill for the team lead in goals with 24. Worrad added his second assist on the night while Riese Gaber picked up his first point as a member of the Steinbach Pistons.

Radomsky stopped all 26 shots he faced, including a couple of deflections for his 3rd straight shutout. Radomsky now owns the longest consecutive scoreless streak in Pistons history. 

The Pistons penalty kill was perfect going 3 for 3 while the power play was 1-4.

Up Next

Pistons vs Virden Oil Capitals - Friday - 7:30 pm @TG Smith Centre

Pistons vs Neepawa Natives - Sunday - 7:30 pm @TG Smith Centre