The Steinbach Pistons scored five straight goals between the second and third period to bury the Winnipeg Blues for their 13th straight win, 7-2 Saturday afternoon.

With the win, the Steinbach officially clinch top spot in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League for the 2021-22 regular season and will have home ice advantage throughtout the playoffs.

Prior to the game, the Blues handed out their team awards and also celebrated long time trainer Lana DeBeer who's in her 20th season in the MJHL. She was presented with a special jersey with the number 20 on the back.

In the opening of the first period, Steinbach tried to set a tone by throwing their weight around. Defender David Cote laid a big hit that had his bench cheering.

Less than three minutes in, Pistons forward Neo Kiemeney scored his 6th of the season, sneaking a quick shot through the Blues goalie. The 1-0 goal was assisted by Owen Weihs. The line of Weihs, Kiemeny and Travis Hensrud continue to find chemistry and were effective in all three zones.

Near the midway point of the period, the top line put in a solid shift and almost resulted in the second goal when Zach Power took a stretch pass, cut around the goal and just about tucked in the wrap around. The Blues defender was able to get just enough to keep the puck out and it remained a single goal lead.

Will Hambley got the start in net and didn't face much action through the first half of the period. He did make one tricky save after a Blues forward got around the Pistons defence and flicked a sharp angle floater that Hambley was able to corral and get the whistle.

The Blues pushed to find the equalizer but Hambley stood tall again as after a turnover in the slot, Hambley stretched out and managed to kick a puck that got behind him away and into the corner.

Time ticked away and the period came to an end with the Kiemeny goal being the only one on the board, 1-0 for the road team.

An early second period power play gave Steinbach an opportunity to expand the lead.

Power play time melted away and as it came to an end, the Blues transitioned the other way and chipped a puck under the bar to tie the game 1-1.

Winnipeg came close to grabbing a lead when they broke through the defensive coverage and put a bouncing puck towards the slot. Steinbach managed to hang on but took a penalty on the play.

While shorthanded, Hensrud and Weihs were able to get a turnover in the neutral zone, head the other way and get a decent scoring chance.

Pistons killed off the penalty and the game remained 1-1.

The top line of Braden Birnie, Quinton Pepper and Zach Power would get Steinbach the lead back. Power and Pepper just missed on a mini two-one-one in close of the Blues goal but Pepper kept the play alive, fed Power who zipped a pass to a wide open Birnie who made no mistake for his 8th, putting Steinbach on top 2-1.

Another power play for Steinbach but again, they couldn't get anything to go, despite a much better effort than their first man advantage.

Birnie, Pepper and Power would strike again to give the Pistons a two goal lead. Power burst into the zone, chipped a puck to Birnie who drove towards the side of the goal and fed Pepper who had a wide open cage to tap in his 29th of the year.

A third power play in the second period for the visitors was finally successful. 

Langley Kruggel fired a point shot that missed the net but came out to Pepper who tried to fire it home and while he was stopped, Ty Paisley was right there to hammer home his 15th of the year.

The goal with the man-advantage gives Steinbach 10 consecutive games with a power play goal which ties a team record.

Winnipeg tried to push towards the end of the period but the horn sounded and the teams went into the break with the away team leading 4-1.

Kruggel would get his third goal of the year after some nifty passing by the Pistons had Winnipeg running around their own zone and with it, a lane opened up for Birnie to hit Kruggel at the point and make it a 5-1 game. Pepper notched his 4th point of the afternoon.

Cooper Rice took a high-stick that sent the 19-year-old down to the ice in a bit of pain. The infraction cost the Blues four minutes.

Rice would get his revenge for taking that stick in the mouth as he cashed in off an unreal pass by Davis Fry and the lead grew to 6-1. "That was a disgusting pass", one person said of the Fry feed to Rice.

The Blues did manage to stop the Pistons scoring train as they scored to cut the lead to 6-2 just a single second past the midway point.

Right after the goal, the Blues would get another chance when Paisley was called for a cross check right in front of the bench.

Leading in the league in the PK department, the Pistons forced the Blues all over the ice and killed off the penalty without much going against them.

Physicality started to pick up as frustrations started to ramp up. Both teams did a lot of talking, pushing and shoving both between and after the whistles.

Once again, the big line outworked the Blues and Birnie banked home his second of the game and 9th of the year as the lead grew to 7-2. Kruggle picked up another assist to top off a three point night.

Hambley finished the game with 23 saves, collecting his 27th win of the year.

Steinbach's power play finished 2-5 while the penalty kill was a perfect 2-2.

The second to last home game of the regular season is on Sunday afternoon when the Pistons welcome in the Winnipeg Freeze. Puck drop is set for 2:30 pm.