Ty Dilello
The Steinbach Pistons continue to show why they are the top team in the MJHL this season. In game two, they notched another convincing 5–2 victory over the Niverville Nighthawks in the first round series.
Steinbach jumped out with a goal just a couple minutes into the contest, but Ethan Kelly then replied with a goal of his own for Niverville to tie the score late in the first period.
The Pistons took the lead just a few seconds later. They then broke up with a trio of goals in the second period to lead 5–1.
Nathan Brown got one back for Niverville in the third period, but the rest of the comeback didn’t come together.
Raiden LeGall stopped 36 shots for the Nighthawks in the loss.
“We had a good first period,” said Nighthawks head coach Dwight Hirst. “We need to hit the reset button after a goal and be conscious of our positional awareness in those shifts after getting the equalizer at 1–1. Our second period was a lull for us, as we need to play a full 60 minutes in every game, let alone a playoff game. We’ve got to bring it for a full game and not be complacent.”
Hirst was pleased with the thunderous playoff atmosphere created by the full house of Nighthawks fans at the CRRC.
“It’s always nice to play in front of a full crowd,” he said. “We have to give our fans a full 60 minutes to cheer on, though, as I thought we competed for 40 of the 60 tonight.”
The series will now shift back to La Broquerie for game three on Tuesday, March 26. The puck drops at 7:00 p.m.
“To get back into the series, we just have to take things one period at a time,” said Hirst. “And worry about what we need to do on playing a complete game in all three zones for a full 60 minutes.”