The Steinbach Pistons scored four power-play goals in a 7-1 victory over the Winkler Flyers in the third meeting of the season between the two rivals. Patrice Wren scored the only goal for Winkler and goaltender Casey Parker took the loss in his second start as a Flyer.
After a thrilling shootout win over the visiting Dauphin Kings on Friday night, the Flyers traveled to the TG Smith Center in Steinbach to play the Pistons for the third time this season. The Flyers and Pistons had not played each other since the opening weekend of the season, when both teams won their respective home openers.
Early in the first period, just moments after a good looking Flyers’ power-play, the Pistons carried the puck into the Winkler zone on a 3-on-2 and beat Casey Parker under the blocker arm, taking a 1-0 lead at the 4:38 mark of the period. Not even two minutes later, Steinbach doubled their lead to 2-0.
The Flyers trailed 2-0 after the first period but not for a lack of chances. Winkler had four power-plays in the frame and generated a huge number of chances but no goals.
Winkler cut Steinbach’s lead to 2-1 early in the second period when Patrice Wren finished off a nice pass from Tristan Keck just 1:26 into the period. Cam Whyte drew the second assist on Wren’s eighth of the season.
However, just passed the seven minute mark of the period, Denis Bosc picked the top corner over Parker from a sharp angle and the Pistons lead was back up to two. The Pistons took control of the game later in the period when they scored their fourth goal on a 5-on-3 power-play, and took a 5-1 lead on the ensuing 5-on-4 power-play, 9:56 into the second.
That would spell the end of the night for Parker who finished the game with just 13 saves on 18 shots. With Dasan Sydora now in goal, the Flyers shut down the Pistons the rest of the period and trailed by four heading into the third.
With the effort level still there in the third, the Flyers gave up two more power-play goals in the period and the Pistons had a 7-1 lead.
Casey Parker (0-2) took the loss in goal making 13 saves on 18 shots faced through a period and a half. Dasan Sydora (17-5-1) made 16 saves on the 18 shots he faced. Steinbach outshot the Flyers 36-24 overall. Winkler went 0-for-4 on the power-play and just 1-for-5 on the penalty-kill.
The Flyers (21-10-5) remain in third place in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League Standings, one point back of the second place Winnipeg Blues and three points ahead of the fourth place Steinbach Pistons. Winkler will host the Neepawa Natives on Friday, December 19th (7:30pm) in their final home game before the MJHL Christmas Break. The draw for the Katie Cares Respite Home Raffle will take place during the game.