Both the Steinbach Pistons and the Swan Valley Stampeders are coming into the playoffs after playing some pretty good hockey down the stretch heading into the playoffs.

The Pistons punched their ticket to the post-season dance a number of weeks ago, but still found another gear in the final few games as they defeated the Portage Terriers 2-0 and the Winkler Flyers 4-2 to wrap up the regular season.

Depth up front is a huge advantage in this series for the Pistons. Four strong lines that can play in all situations will make the defensive assignments a nightmare for their opponent. Leading scorer Bradley Schoonbaert finished with 91 points in just 59 games while linemate Drew Worrad had an impressive 75 points in just 47 games and Austin Heidemann led rookies in scoring with 24 goals 34 assists for 58 points which set a new Pistons record for points by a rookie. 

While the top line continues to impress, it's been every line contributing to wins. The second line of Will Koop, Jack Johnson and Riese Gaber have started to fire on all cylinders and really found chemistry, especially in Koops 4 goal game vs the Dauphin Kings towards the end of the year.

Tyson McConnell is admired by teammates and coaching staff alike for his competitive nature and willingness to do whatever's asked. Putting up 19 goals while being one of the top penalty killers in the league has given the Pilot Mound native the recognition he deserves. Playing on a line with the dangerous sniper Daniel McKitrick and versatile Brendan Martin has made it a line Swan will need to be worried need to worry about.

The Pistons coaching staff has said all year that "we don't have a typical 4th line, they're sometimes are best of a consistent line." And they're right. Easton Bennett, Brady Tatro and of late Tanner Mole has been a force down low. They dump pucks in and work over the other team's defenders which allow teammates to get more room to work as the game progresses. Luke Bellerose is another player that can play up and down the lineup and showed how versatile he can be vs the Portage Terriers when he scored the game-winning goal and dropped the gloves in a great tilt at centre ice later in the game. 

Another game changer on the ice and in the locker room is waiting in the wings in the form of captain Braden Purtill. Purtill led the team in power play goals with 10. Purtill put up an impressive 56 points in 42 games but hasn't seen any game action since January 24th. Purtill's return is still up in the air but he could be a major factor in the Pistons success.

Steinbach boasts an impressive array of scoring including seven 20 goal scorers and two 19 goal scorers. The power play finished 2nd in the MJHL 24.2% (68 goals in 281 chances) while the penalty kill was 3rd overall (45 power play goals against in 256 times short). The Pistons were last in the league in penalty minutes with 798.

On the backend, the MJHL's top defender had upped his game on both sides of the puck as Darby Gula has really come into his own as a 19-year-old. Veterans Mark Taraschuk and Mark Wilson have both had strong seasons while second-year man Declan Graham and first-year Pistons Jaret Lalli and Tristan Culleton have really come into their own as the season has progressed. Not to mention two future stars waiting in the wings in Curtis Ireland and Jack Lenchyshyn ready to step in if needed.

Goaltending has also been nothing short of spectacular this year as both Matthew Thiessen and Matt Radomsky finished 1-2 in many top categories in the league. For being the youngest goaltending tandem in the league, both goalies combined for 10 shutouts. Thiessen finished with a record of 28-3 while Radomsky was 20-5. Whichever goalie gets the nod throughout the series, the Steinbach Pistons will feel confident that they'll have a chance to win every night.

On the other side of the puck, the Swan Valley Stampeders have been playing their best hockey of the season and battled right till the end to clinch that 8th and last playoff spot.

Veteran forward Keaton Jameson was recently named the MJHL Player of the Week and rookie sensation Matt Osadick has announced his commitment to the University of Maine. 

Jameson led the Stampeders with 70 points (22 goals 48 assists in 59 games) while teammates Connor Navrot and Josh Tripp also had impressive seasons. For Swan to be successful, they'll need to rely on players up and down their lineup like Daniel Chartrand and Jaden Townsend to provide offence.

On the backend, Quintin Sudom led the team in scoring putting up 10 goals and 25 assists in 59 games. Sudom along with 20-year-old Daylin Smallchild will log big minutes for the Stamps and can provide a spark of offence from the blueline. Swans defence will need to find the fine line between searching for the offence without sacrificing positioning on defence. 

Swans netminders have maybe been the most impressive part of their late-season run. Brett Evans and Ethan Peterson both put up some big numbers down the stretch. Peterson is coming off an impressive 33 save shutout over the OCN Blizzard to end the Stampeders regular season. Both goalies have played well and the Stamps staff will have a decision to make who will get the lions share of the crease for the series.

Playoff Schedule

Fri. Mar 09, 2018 - 7:30PM 

SWAN  @  STEI

Sat. Mar 10, 2018 - 7:30PM 

SWAN  @  STEI

Tue. Mar 13, 2018 - 7:30PM 

STEI  @  SWAN

Wed. Mar 14, 2018 - 7:30PM 

STEI  @  SWAN

Fri. Mar 16, 2018 - 7:30PM* 

SWAN  @  STEI

Sun. Mar 18, 2018 - 7:30PM* 

STEI  @  SWAN

Tue. Mar 20, 2018 - 7:30PM* 

SWAN  @  STEI