The Steinbach Pistons used three third period goals to even up the ANAVET Cup finals at 1-1 heading to Nipawin, Saskatchewan for games three, four and five with a gutsy 3-1 win at home.

It was the road Hawks that got the opening goal for a second consecutive game as a point shot was tipped in by Logan Casavant to make it 1-0 Nipawin with under four minutes to go in the period.

In the second, Pistons goalie Matthew Thiessen and Hawks, goalie Declan Hobbs went save for save as both teams had chances but the goalies stood tall.

It was Steinbach with the best opportunities that came off the sticks of Austin Heidemann and Drew Worrad both of which rang shots off the post just mere seconds apart from each other.

 It remained a 1-0 game heading into the third period.

Steinbach wanted their power play to find a bit of traction and while they had their chances in the first two periods, it was a chance in the third that the finally cashed in on. 

Heidemann, who knocked one off the bar earlier in the game, got his vindication as he put a perfect wrist shot over the shoulder of Hobbs and under the bar to tie the game up 1-1. Bradley Schoonbaert who fed Heidemann the pass from the corner had one assist while Mark Wilson collected the other.

Nipawin pushed back after the goal and had a couple chances but strong defensive play from the Pistons and rock-solid goaltending from Thiessen kept things deadlocked at 1-1 heading to the midway point of the period.

Described as a playoff performer, Braden Purtill lived up to that billing as he drove the net as Daniel McKitrick directed the puck towards the crease. Hawks goalie Hobbs misplayed the puck and Purtill was able to one hand the puck through the five-hole to give Steinbach their first lead of the game 2-1. Wilson also collected his second assist on the night.

Later in the period, Riese Gaber was hit high and Hawks defender Thomas Lenchyshyn was assessed a 5 minute major and a game misconduct for a check to the head.

Gaber was down on the ice for several minutes before making his way to the bench under his own power. Gaber stayed there for a couple minutes before making his way to the dressing room.

While on the man advantage, it was Purtill again as he snapped home a perfect wrist-shot off a beautiful, picture-perfect pass from Worrad to make it 3-1 Pistons. Again, Wilson got another assist for his third point of the night on the insurance marker.

Nipawin pulled the goalie but never got any great chances towards Thiessen and the horn sounded tying up the ANAVET Cup at 1-1 after the Steinbach Pistons won game two 3-1.

The Pistons power play was solid, finishing 2-5 while providing both the game-tying goal and the insurance goal. The penalty kill was spectacular finishing 5-5 on the night.

The final shots on goal were 32-26 Steinbach.

Game 3 will be Tuesday night in Nipawin with game 4 also being played in Nipawin on Wednesday night.