It's become the recent norm as the Steinbach Pistons scored late in the third to force overtime then grabbed the extra point on Tanner Moles 20th of the year in a 3-2 win over the Selkirk Steelers.

Physical First

The opening period saw both teams come out and play well.

Steinbach and Selkirk were hitting, making sure players paid the price to touch the puck, forcing turnovers and both goalies made some pretty stellar saves.

It looked like Steinbach got on the board first when a pass out from behind the net went off Caleb Paisley's skate and in but after a quick group meeting between the officials, it was ruled that Paisley interfered with the goaltender so not only did the goal not count, he was penalized.

On the ensuing minor, Selkirk used quick puck movement and great passing to generate the first goal of the game, 1-0.

The Pistons answered back later in the period when defender Declan Graham tight roped the blueline, just barely keeping the puck in, then fired a wrister towards the net that was tipped in by Max Neil. Neil's goal was his 8th of the season and first goal in 21 games and head coach Paul Dyck noted the importance of the goal for the 17-year-old. "I think (Max) has had some chances but as a young guy, when you go into an extended drought, it can weigh on you. As a young player, you want to contribute which he has night in and night out. He's one of our more physical players but it's nice to see him get on the board tonight."

After the first period, it was 1-1.

Slower Second

Both teams slowed the pace a little in the second period and there was not that physical play that fans saw in the first. It was more of a grinding it out style period.

The best chance for Steinbach came after a clearing pass hit Brendan Martin coming off the bench and as Martin was being cut off by the backchecking defender of Selkirk, he slipped a pass back to Mole who had a great chance but was turned away.

That Save boosted the Steelers as a Selkirk defender snuck in off the blueline a few minutes later and buried a wrist shot off the post and in to make it 2-1 Selkirk.

The Steelers clamped down in the second and held Steinbach to limited chances and Steinbach would need another comeback.

Kilroy Goes Back To (old) School

With the third period well under way and Steinbach in need of something to get the crowd and the bench back into the game, a knee was thrown out on Tanner Mole, shaking up the 19-year-old forward as he was in obvious pain down on the ice.

There was no penalty on the play and Jack Kilroy made sure to take exception to what he deemed a dirty play.

Kilroy, who is 6"0 and 190lbs dropped the gloves with Nate Halvorsen who's 6"3 and 220lbs.

Despite Halvorsen being bigger and having the reach advantage, Kilroy stuck in there and both landed some good shots in an old fashioned, swing from the heels slug fest.

Dyck, who's hockey life dates back to when scraps like that were common place (not just in games but in practices too), was proud of the way Kilroy stepped up and did what he had to do. "You know, as much as it might not be part of the game any longer, that's one fo the first things the guys get excited for in the room after the game. That's Jack standing up for a teammate and understanding the situation."

Never Give Up, Never Surrender

The third period was as close to picture perfect for the Steelers as they could have drawn up. 

They kept Steinbach from getting any type of speed into the offensive zone and clogged up the neutral zone with three or sometimes four players.

As time wound down, Steinbach looked to get something, anything towards the net.

Troy Williams was the guy to find a way.

Williams, who has a knack for getting his shots through from the point, mainly in the final minutes of games, got the puck on a pass from Graham and floated a shot towards the net.

The shot wasn't the hardest he's ever unleashed but it found it's way through and into the back of the net for his 8th of the year, tieing the game 2-2 with only 20 seconds left. Kyle Bettens had the secondary assist.

Putting In Overtime

With Steinbach's late goal forcing extra time, The Pistons have now been in either overtime or a shootout in 4 of their past 6 games.

Both teams gave all they had through 60 minutes and both dug deep trying to find the winner.

Williams who earlier tied the game, was the catalyst to getting the winner as the defender made his way into the offensive zone but was angled off into the corner. Williams fought through the check and drove to the net. 

His shot was stopped but Tanner Mole came crashing in, found the loose puck and buried his 20th of the year giving his team their 7th straight win, 3-2.

Big Goal Mole

Mole has become a player who scores big goals in big moments and in overtime there was a funny moment between coach and player. "Just before he was set to go out, he was looking at me," Dyck recalls with a laugh. "I wanted to get fresh bodies out and he has a knack around the net. I'm glad he looked at me. Afterwards he said he wasn't sure if he should go and I said, well, I want guys who want to go. He was at the door and ready."

Radomsky Rock

Another strong game in goal for Matt Radomsky who made a couple of key saves in tight and one on a Steelers powerplay while his team trailed by a goal. 

After getting victimized by a cross crease pass on the first goal, Selkirk tried the same play again, hitting a defender who snuck in from the point with a great pass through the blue paint but Radomsky read it perfectly and was able to get the pad down to slam the door shut.

A fancy toe save and a few scramble plays in front followed later in the game as he finished with 27 saves for win number 25 on the year.

Steinbach's power play finished 0-3 while the leagues best penalty kill allowed 1 goal on 3 chances to the leagues number 3 ranked power play.

Finding Ways To Win

Playoffs are right around the corner and while the game maybe didn't have a playoff type feel to it in terms of atmosphere, it sure was a playoff type game on the ice.

Both teams showed strong defence and Selkirk showed Steinbach what they'll need to do to be successful come the clamped down style of the post-season. "They did a terrific job clogging up the neutral zone. It looked like we were playing the 1995 New Jersey Devils. There were a lot of sticks on pucks, not a lot of time. Every time we gained the line, they had a wall. We made our lives more difficult by trying to carry through that all but it was the guys who put pucks in deep that broke through."

Positive Looks From Westbrook

Pistons forward Brendan Westbrook has been out since January 18th with a lower body injury, remarked after the game that it looked like Steinbach is figuring out how to play different ways and still win.

"It's very perceptive by him," Dyck said of Westbrook. "It's a great comment, you have to find different ways to win. You're not going to be in the lead every night from start to finish. We're learning that just because we're down a goal, we have the ability to come back. It's a real confidence builder in the room."

Up Next... Playoff Preview?

With the win, Steinbach improves to 37-14-2 for 76 points. One point up on Swan Valley who has three games in hand. 

Steinbach heads off on the road Friday and Saturday night for back to back games vs the Dauphin Kings who currently sit in 6th place.

Dyck and his team are looking at this two game set and are ready for what should be two great games that could be a first round playoff preview. "We've looked at our schedule and looked at why games are important. Dauphin is a potential playoff match-up and you want to show well, come out of games with confidence. They're fighting for positioning as well. They have a fiery hockey club, they play a physical brand. We're going to have to be up for that and we're going to have to play fast."

Both Games On MIX 96

The two games coming up will be on MIX 96 and SteinbachOnline.com

Steinbach vs Dauphin on Friday night - pre-game show at 7:15 pm, puck drop 7:30 pm.

Steinbach vs Dauphin on Saturday night - pre-game show at 7:15 pm, puck drop 7:30 pm.