The Steinbach Pistons walked into the Nipawin arena known as "The Cage" and locked up the Hawks with a strong 6-2 win to grab a 2-1 series lead in the ANAVET Cup finals.

Steinbach had surrendered the first goal in the first two games of the series and almost fell victum to that again as Nipawain corralled a Pistons turnover in the defensive zone and generated some momentum but not a lot in the way of good scoring chances.

After a strong defensive stand, the Pistons got on the board when Easton Bennett scored on a backhander off a point shot from Darby Gula to make it 1-0. Luke Bellerose also added an assist on Bennett's first of the ANAVET Cup.

Nothing more on the scoreboard but there was some excitement when a Hawks forward took a run at Pistons defender Declan Graham and caught him up a bit high. Tanner Mole quickly came to the aid to his teammate and a dust up occured. Graham was okay on the play and the Pistons came out with a power play which they failed to capitalize on.

After twenty minutes of play, the Pistons led 1-0.

In the second, Brady Tatro snapped off an absolute rocket that went top shelf and shattered the waterbottle of the Nipawin goaltender to push the lead to 2-0. Head coach Paul Dyck called it "a real pro shot". Tatro missed game 2 due to injury but made his presence felt all night long, not just with the 2-0 goal.

The scoring continued as Austin Heidemann cashed in on a backhander to make it 3-0. It was a nice net drive by Drew Worrad who dropped the puck back to Bradley Schoonbaert who sucked in two Hawks defenders before finding Heidemann and the rookie scored his second goal in as many games.

More from the top line as Schoonbaert and Worrad broke in on a two on one. As Worrad drove to the net, he was caught down low with a stick that sent the forward to the ice just as Schoonbaert slid the pass over. The puck bounced off Worrad and in for the 4-0 lead.

Even with the three goals, the highlights might have been the defensive play as the Pistons only allowed 6 shots in the entire period.

With a lead already, the Pistons continued to press and while on the power play, Schoonbaert defelected a point shot from Mark Wilson to make it 5-0. Worrad added an assist for his third point of the night.

The Hawks would finally get on the board as Logan Cassavant tipped a puck between Matthew Thiessen's legs to make it 5-1.

Steinbach answered back on another power play as Daniel McKitrick drifted off to the side of the net and was hit with a perfect pass from Declan Graham to make it 6-1. Jack Johnson added the secondary assist on the goal in what was one Johnson's best, most complete games to date. 

One more goal for the Hawks to close out the scoring as late in the third, a one-timed point shot from Carter Doerkson beat Thiessen up high to make it 6-2 Steinbach.

The horn sounded and Steinbach grabbed a 2 games to 1 advantage after a 6-2 win on the road. Game 4 is set for Wednesday night at 8:30 pm Manitoba time.

The power play finished 2 for 5 while the penalty kill was a perfect 3-3.

Matthew Thiessen was rock solid, including a big save in the final seconds off a bouncing puck. It was the final of his 23 saves on the night.

There will be a day off between games 4 which is played Wednesday and game 5 which will be played Friday. Both games in Nipawin.