The Steinbach Pistons started the 2021-22 playoffs with a 5-2 win over the Selkirk Steelers on Friday night to take a 1-0 series lead.

It was the first post-season game in nearly two years and the crowd as well as the players felt the energy in the TG Smith Centre.

After both teams slowly worked their way into the game, the Pistons started putting pressure on the Steelers, who could only hold back the deadly offence for so long.

Selkirk didn't do themselves any favors in their own zone as the persistent Pistons fore-check forced a number of turnovers. The most egregious one resulted in Steinbach opening the scoring when Travis Hensrud was the benefactor of a wayward pass from a Steelers defender. Hensrud held the puck, dragging all the attention to him which allowed Owen Weihs to cut the to the net and deflect home the first goal of the game, 1-0.

Less than a minute later, the top line combined to give Steinbach a 2-0 lead. Quinton Pepper got the play started when he his Zach Power with a pass through the neutral zone. Power cut into Steelers territory, slammed on the breaks and hit the trailer Braden Birnie who beat the Steelers goalie clean go expand the lead.

Jackson Betcher did most of the heavy lifting on the 3-0 goal as the crafty defender dashed into the Selkirk zone, protected the puck from the defender, cut towards the net and filtered a pass to Jack Rogers who tapped in his first of the playoffs. Cooper Rice picked up the secondary assist on the final goal of the period.

Will Hambley wasn't overly tested in the first period but the 19-year-old backstop was called upon while shorthanded late and was up for the challenge turning the Steelers away as the pushed to get some momentum.

Early in the second, Power would increase the lead even more as he sniped a shot short side, off the post and in to make it 4-0. Birnie and Pepper both collected their second points of the contest on the goal.

Throughout the rest of the second, Selkirk slowly started to take over control as they pushed to get on the board.

They did just that to cut the lead to 4-1 before the period was through.

In the third, another goal for the road team made things a little more interesting as the lead was cut in half 4-2.

That's as close as the Steelers would get. 

Nate Goodbrandson put the game away scoring an empty netter with Rogers and Rice collecting the assists for the final goal of the game, 5-2.

Hambley finished with 27 saves on the night, his first MJHL playoff win.

The penalty kill was a perfect 4-4 while the power play finished 0-3.

Game 2 is set for Sunday in Selkirk. The game will be broadcast on MIX 96 and SteinbachOnline.com with the pre-game show at 5:45 pm and puck drop at 6:00 pm.