The Steinbach Pistons avoided elimination on Sunday night, with a 4-1 win over the Winkler Flyers in Game Five. Still leading the Best of Seven Semi-Final 3-2, the Flyers will have another chance to book their ticket to the league final, Tuesday night at home.
After winning Game Four, Friday night at the Winkler Rec Complex, the Flyers travelled back to the TG Smith Centre in Steinbach looking for the series clinching win on the road. The Flyers had won three of the last five games in Steinbach this season, including their 1-0 victory in Game One.
Tristan Keck opened the scoring with a power-play goal just over four minutes into the game, firing a wrist shot off the far post and in. Zak Hicks and Jordan Wall assisted on Keck’s league leading eighth goal of the playoffs.
The Pistons tied the game up with 3:58 to play in the first thanks to Cole Smith’s first of the series.
Quinton Lisoway capitalized on a Flyer turnover in the defensive zone to give Steinbach a 2-1 lead early in the second and with 4:20 left in the middle frame, Hayden Goderis tapped in a loose puck to give the home side a 3-1 lead before the second intermission.
On a night where not much went their way, despite a pretty decent effort, the Flyers struggled to get back into the game in the third. Quinton Lisoway scored his second of the game with just over three minutes to play in regulation and the Pistons would keep their season alive with a 4-1 win at home.
Nathan Warren faced 37 shots in Game Five and made 33 saves. Steinbach outshot Winkler 37-22. Winkler went 1-for-3 on the power-play and 2-for-2 on the penalty-kill.
The Flyers, who still lead the best of seven series 3-2, will have another opportunity to advance to the Manitoba Junior Hockey League Final when they host the Pistons in Game Six, Tuesday night in Winkler. Puck drop at the Winkler Recreation Complex is 7:30pm. Advance tickets are available at the Winkler Coop Gas Bar or and the door prior to the game. The Flyers are 5-0 at home during the 2016 playoffs.
The Portage Terriers, who swept the Winnipeg Blues in the other semi-final series are awaiting the winner of this series.
Great Canadian Oil Change Three Stars
1st – F Quinton Lisoway (Steinbach)
2nd – F Cole Smith (Steinbach)
3rd – D Eddie Eades (Steinbach)
Winkler Canvas Hardest Working Flyer
D Connor Hamonic