The Steinbach Pistons came off Friday night's win over the OCN Blizzard and let the following two games slip away, one against the same Blizzard and the following night vs the Swan Valley Stampeders, finishing the road trip with a 1-1-1- record.

One Out Of Two

Friday night wasn't the best showing for the Pistons and while at times things picked up on Saturday, there were still stretches where they cost themselves in what finished a 2-1 OCN Blizzard win in overtime.

Both teams came out skating better than they did the previous night and both produced several chances but didn't find paydirt. 

It was on a Pistons power play that the first goal would be scored. Unfortunately for the visitors, it was a short-handed goal against that brought life to the Blizzard bench spotting them a 1-0 lead.

In the second, Steinbach responded with their own shorthanded goal as Boedey Vaeth stripped the puck in the defensive zone and broke out on a two on one. After his original shot was stopped, Vaeth got his own rebound and slipped it home short-side to knot things up at 1-1. Aiden Wagner was credited with an assist on the goal.

The Pistons continued to push in both the second and third periods but couldn't find the back of the net again.

In overtime, after a Pistons two on one failed to connect, the Blizzard turned back the other way and scored to get their first win of the year with a 2-1 final.

Matt Lenz got the start for Steinbach and played very well making 34 saves on the evening including 14 in the first period alone.

The power play was not very dangerous and didn't create much finishing 0-4 while the penalty kill was strong finishing 6-6.

Stamps Stamp Streak

Steinbach went into Sunday's contest against the Swan Valley Stampeders having won 37 straight games. 

That streak was snapped with a Swan Valley 3-2 victory.

It was a tough opening for Steinbach who went down 2-0 in the first 1:46 of the game.

The Pistons dug down and started to turn the tide, especially in the second period.

The comeback started when a point shot was deflected down right to the waiting stick of Brendan Martin for his 7th of the year to cut the lead to 2-1. Declan Graham picked up his first assist of the night and Boedey Vaeth continued his hot streak with another helper.

Tanner Mole got back into the scoring swing of things on the power play when he slid a backhander home for this 5th of the year to knot things up 2-2. Tyson McConnell and Graham were given credits for the assists.

In the third, a questionable penalty call put Swan Valley up on a 5 on 3 which they capitalized on, scoring the eventual game-winner.

Matt Radomsky was once again called up to make some big saves which he did, giving his team a chance to come back and then a chance to win the game, however, the goalie's personal four game winning streak was snapped despite making 22 saves on the night.

The power play again at times looked off as many chances had little to no traffic in front of the Swan goalie. The man advantage units finished 1-7 while the only blemish on the penalty kill was the game-winner as it finished 6-7.

Frustration But No Panic

While it was clear Steinbach wanted better than collecting three out of a possible six points, there was no sense of panic as one person put it, "when you look out at it, we're 6-1-1 in our last 8 games. Not too bad, really."

Off To The Dog House

The Steinbach Pistons next game is Wednesday night against the Portage Terriers at Stride Place. The last time the two teams met was in Steinbach that saw the Pistons come away with a 6-2 win. 

Four of the goals were scored in the first period.

Head coach Paul Dyck knows that Portage will have been waiting for their chance to get even. "We have to go in ready to work, ready to battle," he said after getting off the bus from the trip home from Swan Valley Monday morning. "They'll want to get even and we have to be ready to match that intensity."

Almost Home Time

Wednesday's game wraps up a 4 game road trip for the Pistons and they'll be back at home Saturday and Sunday when they welcome in the OCN Blizzard for back to back contests.

One Pistons player said after the overtime loss on Saturday, "this stings and it's something we can learn from. We're going to be ready on Saturday when they come to us. They're gonna see a very different team."