For a third straight season, the Steinbach Pistons will compete for the Turnbull Cup after defeating the Blizzard 2-0 in game seven Wednesday night.

Coming off an impressive game six win on the road, Steinbach brought a lot of the same determination and energy to start game seven.

Right off the hop, the Pistons had a couple of glorious chances to get on the scoreboard but some find goaltending by the Blizzard netminder kept it scoreless.

As the period went along, the Blizzard started to push back and it was Cole Plowman to shine as he battled through screens, tracked loose pucks in front, and denied the Blizzard from scoring.

After a surge by the Blizzard, the Pistons took control again and spent the majority of the rest of the opening period in the offensive zone.

Shots were listed as 8-5 Steinbach but both teams had more chances than the shots would indicate. Many were blocked or fired just wide of the net.

In the second, Steinbach would strike.

Shane Burns kept a puck in at the blueline and after doing so, walked in a few steps and fired a puck toward the goal that appeared to be going wide but deflected off a Blizzard body in front, finding the back of the net and putting Steinbach up 1-0. For Burns, it was his first career MJHL playoff goal.

After the goal, the Blizzard responded and pushed for the equalizer but Plowman, with a little help from the post, kept Steinbach ahead 1-0.

A couple of Pistons defenders left their mark on the game in different but equally impressive ways. First, Spencer Penner managed to get in the lane, making several key blocks, continuing to put his body on the line for his team. Jack Cook also stepped up by ramping up the physical play. The 20-year-old laid a massive hit in his zone that had fans and his teammates jumping.

Sam Noad would give Steinbach some insurance as the 18-year-old completed a pretty passing play which involved some slick work from Brayden Berg and Brett Kaiser before scoring his second in as many games making it a 2-0 contest.

Once again, the Blizzard refused to go quietly but Plowman was up to the task stopping all 13 shots that were put in his direction.

In the third, an early power play for the Blizzard looked to maybe give them some life but the penalty kill units for Steinbach, sensational all series long, stepped up again and refused to let the visitors build any sort of momentum. 

Time melted away as Steinbach clamped down.

A packed house at the HyLife Centre in La Broquerie counted down the final seconds and as the horn sounded signaling a Pistons win, fans once again rose to their feet to salute their team.

 

@steinbach_online @mjhlpistons win semi-finals game 7 and now head to Niverville to host the @winklerflyersmjhl in the @mjhlhockey finals. Find out more in the story on #steinbachonline #steinbach #hockey ♬ original sound - SteinbachOnline

Plowman's 26 saves were good for his first career MJHL playoff shutout.

The penalty kill for Steinbach was 1/1 while they didn't have a power play chance, it was one of the best officiated games all season long.

The Pistons move on to take on the Winkler Flyers in the MJHL Finals. Steinbach will be moving homes for the finals as games will be played out of the CRRC in Niverville. 

Game 1 is Friday at the CRRC in Niverville with game 2 Sunday in Winkler.