It was what the hometown fans have come to expect from the Steinbach Pistons as they defeated the Winnipeg Blues 6-2 at the TG Smith Centre on Tuesday night, evening up their pre-season record at 1-1.

With only a couple of games left to impress the coaching staff, players seemed to be feeling the nerves early on, on both sides. Miss-timed passes, shots either going wide or not making it through at all and some undisciplined play, led to a long first period. Steinbach would head into the break with a lead after Dawson Waddell tapped home a rebound making it 1-0 midway through the opening frame. Good work by the whole line as Vaughn Dupre and Alex Murano picked up the assists.

Things got better in the second, as the teams began to skate and stay out of the penalty box. Darby Gula fired home a shot from the point with the assists going to Jordan Bochinski and Max Cavalini. Just over 30 seconds later, Winnipeg answered back cutting the lead in half 2-1.

That's as close as the Blues would get as the veterans took over. 

Ryan Carlson, who looked in mid season form, skated the puck from his own blue line and with hit teammates making a line change, did the smart play and fired it on the net hoping to get a whistle, a face off and complete the change. His shot was placed perfect and ended up slipping through the five hole of the net minder giving Steinbach a 3-1 lead. "I kinda wish I saved that one for the (regular) season." Carlson said with a laugh after the game. "I was just looking for a shot and change, I had some ice and got it into the zone. You miss 100% of the shots you don't take so you might as well rip it at the net and it worked out."

Not to be outdone in the period, another 20 year old made his mark as Jordan Bochinski rifled a beauty wrist shot high glove that gave the forward a two point night. Bochinski admits it was rough at first but the guys found a way to get going. "It's a bit of a change, getting your feet back under you. There are some talented players out there and they really helped us get the win tonight, so it's good." The scoreboard read 4-1 heading into the final period.

In the third, Steinbach came out and found the back of the net again as Taylor Gatto picked up his second goal in as many games with assists going to Drew Anderson and Landon Plett. Winnipeg would get a goal to make it 5-2 but after the Blues pulled their goalie, Waddell picked up the puck on the far boards and made no mistake firing it home for his second of the game and sealing a 6-2 victory in the process.

Special teams left something to be desired for both clubs as the Pistons power play finished 0-3 but stood tall on the penalty kill finishing 5-5. Shots on goal were 41-22 Steinbach.

Roman Bengert picked up the win in his first game action of the new year making 13 saves while Matthew Thiessen came in midway through the second period and looked sharp making 7 stops.

With the season quickly approaching and a fair number of players still in camp, veterans like Bochinski know it can be tough on the younger players as the pressure to make an impact mounts as cuts loom. "It's a nervous time." Bochinski admits. "For a lot of guys, there is a lot of pressure. But knowing from experience, you have to play your game and you can't really think about it. You go out there and play your hardest, everything will take care of it's self." 

The final two pre-season games are Friday in Selkirk and then Saturday in Steinbach and for Carlson, the real games can't get here soon enough. "I'm anxious." He say's with a smile and laugh. "I wanna play so bad. I'm tired of these pre-season games, I've only been in one but I'm ready for the regular season."