The Steinbach Pistons scored 5 unanswered goals en route to a 5-1 win over the Swan Valley Stampeders on Saturday night to take a 2 games to 0 series lead in the MJHL Semi-final.
For the 2nd straight night it would be Justin Keck opening the scoring as he walked across the blue-line and sniped home his league-leading 7th of the playoffs at the 12:46 mark of the 1st to make it 1-0.
The Pistons responded a short time later as after scramble in front it would be Ian Amsbaugh poking in a rebound through the five-hole of Swan goalie Kobe Grant to make it 1-1 through 20 minutes.
Shots after 1: Pistons 13 Stampeders 12
In the 2nd, the Pistons grabbed their first lead of the night as Hunter Degelman went in alone on Grant and his snap-shot snuck through the right arm for his 1st of the playoffs to make it 2-1 with 11:03 left in the 2nd.
They added to their lead just under two minutes later as after a scrabble in front a couple Pistons’ sticks whacked at the loose puck in the slot and Dawson Milliken got credited with his 4th to give the home team a 3-1 lead after 2 periods.
Shots in 2nd: Pistons 10 Stampeders 8
The only offence in the third period was a pair of powerplay goals from Dawson Milliken and the 2nd of the night from Ian Amsbaugh to wrap up the scoring.
Dominik Wasik made 25 saves on 26 shots to earn his 2nd straight victory in the series while Kobe Grant 27 stops in a losing cause.
The series now shifts back to Swan River for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday & Wednesday repetitively.