The Steinbach Pistons picked up a win over the Winnipeg Monarchs on Saturday night, 4-1, but it was a game that could have been won by a bigger margin, while also being closer if not for some incredible work by goaltender Easton Thvedt. 

Dental visit

In the first minute of the game, Steinbach’s Grady Hoffman was clipped with a high stick, leaving him cut and missing pieces off a of couple of teeth. “Makes him look more like a Riders fan,” someone said with a laugh after the game, given Hoffman’s love for his Saskatchewan CFL team. 

Winnipeg was given a four-minute penalty on the play, but Steinbach failed to capitalize.

Breaking the ice

After failing to score on the double minor, Steinbach’s line of William Picklyk, Logan Mehl, and Eric Han went to work.

The play started in the defensive zone with Zheny Miles flipping a puck out into the neutral zone. Han fought through the Monarchs’ would-be checkers, pushing the puck into the offensive zone. Mehl fell in behind Han, took the drop pass and put a puck on goal, which was then deflected perfectly by Picklyk, who celebrated his third of the season, putting Steinbach up 1-0.

Minutes later, Steinbach worked the puck around the zone on another power play, winning battles and keeping the play alive in the offensive zone.

The hard work would pay off when Brody Green whipped a pass over to Brett Kaiser, who fought his way to the front of the net and then found a quiet area all alone, potting his 6th of the year, bringing the game to 2-0. Marek Miller continued his strong weekend of play with the secondary assist.

Throughout the period, Steinbach would carry the play for stretches. Still, the pesky Monarchs refused to go away, earning many good-looking scoring chances, including a couple of breakaways and even a three-on-one. Still, every chance was turned away by 18-year-old Easton Thvedt, who finished the frame, making 8 recorded saves.

Second period

It was more of the same in the middle frame, although Steinbach made some adjustments, limiting Winnipeg in their counterattacks and keeping shots against to a minimum.

Miles would put Steinbach up 3-0 as the opportunistic defender crashed in toward the net, hunting a loose puck down before anyone else, and burying his 5th, with the assists going to Green and Picklyk. 

Another upcoming dental visit

Hoffman will have a friend when he goes to the dentist, because Sam Noad will also need a little work done.

The Pistons captain was battling in front of the net, and as a puck got directed toward the goal, it hit Noad in the mouth, clipping a couple of teeth.

While the puck went into the net, the official waved it off, keeping it a 3-0 game at the time.

The Monarchs used the lucky break and would finally get on the board, cutting the lead to 3-1.

Steinbach held the edge in shots 18-11 in the period and took the lead into the third. 

Third period

It was a relatively quiet and controlled third period, with Steinbach maintaining puck control, but the Monarchs continued to use their speed to cause issues. 

Things opened up at times throughout the period, but Steinbach did a good job supporting in the defensive zone, moved pucks quickly, and never really got running around.

Cole Cairns put the game away when he scored his second of the year, a beauty from Evan Kabel and Eric Cote, making it a 4-1 game.

That would be all that Steinbach would need as they picked up their second win of the weekend and banked two solid points on the road.

Game stats

Easton Thvedt picked up win number six on the year, finishing with 25 saves.

Steinbach’s power play was 1-6, and the penalty kill was 4-4.

Brody Green picked up two assists and now has four helpers in his last two games.

William Picklyk has three points in his last two games.

Zhenya Miles, Brett Kaiser, and Marek Miller all picked up a goal and an assist this weekend.

Up next

Steinbach will head out for a road trip starting in Waywayseecappo on Thursday, followed by a contest the following night in Dauphin.