Hensrud goes hero in Pistons win over Selkirk

Travis Hensrud had himself a night scoring two goals including a game-tieing short-handed marker before eventually sealing the win in a shootout, keeping the Pistons a perfect 5-0 to start the year with a 5-4 win over Selkirk Sunday afternoon.

It didn't take long for the game to see its first goal as the Steelers opened the scoring less than a minute and a half in. 

A power play would even things up as Hensrud cashed in off a perfect pass from Ty Paisley, making it 1-1. Hensrud's 4th of the year was also assisted by Davis Fry.

Neither team would find the back of the net again in the period as they went into the first bread tied 1-1.

The top line of Fry, Hensrud, and Paisley clicked again in the second period as it was Paisley who buried his 3rd of the young season to put his team up 2-1. Fry and Hensrud were given assists, giving the line six points in the game to that point.

In the third, things got pretty wild.

A shorthanded break for Selkirk gave them the chance to tie the game and they didn't miss making it 2-2.

In the same power play, former Steeler Spencer Penner crashed towards the net and deflected home a perfect pass from Ian Amsbaugh. For Penner, it was his first as a Piston as he restored their lead 3-2. Langley Kruggel also picked up an assist on Steinbach's second power-play goal of the game.

On a power play of their own, Selkirk answered back and once again tied the game, 3-3.

A wacky turn of events led the Steelers to their first lead as a shot on goal ended up out in front, hit off a Steeler skate, and went in to put them out front for the first time 4-3.

Just as it looked as though the Pistons were headed towards defeat, Hensrud emerged once again to even the game up in dramatic fashion.

While short-handed, Steinbach managed to keep things to the outside and eventually force the Steelers into giving up the puck. Hensrud scooped it up in the neutral zone, broke into Steeler territory, cut across the top of the circles, and fired a hard wrister that fooled the Selkirk goalie for the Thunder Bay products' second of the game and 5th of the season.

It was the first time this year that Hensrud scored twice in a game but he's no stranger to scoring against the Steelers, having scored 7 goals against them last season.

The tie game went into overtime where Steinbach had a glorious chance to end the game on a Kruggel chance in the slot but a stellar save kept things even. 

Shortly after being robbed, Kruggle was called for a penalty and the Pistons PK unit was called upon to keep the game level.

They did just that thanks to some timely saves by Cole Plowman and strong d-zone coverage.

For the first time this season, a shootout was needed to decide the outcome at the TG Smith Centre.

Selkirk scored first and put the pressure on Steinbach. Down to the last shooter, Davis Fry was called upon to keep the game alive and the 19-year-old forward did by scoring off a nice move to his backhand.

Both extra shooters failed and after another nice stop by Plowman, it set the stage for Hensrud to be the hero and the 20-year-old didn't make a mistake ending the game and giving Steinbach the 5-4 shootout win.

Plowman, a former Steeler like Penner, picked up his 5th straight win finishing the night with 27 saves. For Plowman, he picked up his 5th win on September 25th while last year, it wasn't until October 23rd that he had 5 W's. 

Steinbach's power play went 2-6 while the penalty kill was a strong 6-7.

Game three of a four-game home-stand is coming up on Friday vs the Swan Valley Stampeders.