The arena was packed and the fans were treated to a thrilling game between the Steinbach Pistons and the Winkler Flyers as it ended with the Pistons holding on to a 4-3 win.

The opening period saw stretches where the Pistons controlled play but Winkler responded with a couple of scoring opportunities for themselves but both goalies were good in a scoreless opening period. 

In the second, Steinbach got on the board when Will Koop took off on a breakaway and scored his 23rd of the year, making it 1-0 Steinbach. Brady Tatro had the lone assist on the opening goal. 

Later in the same period, Drew Worrad took a pass from Bradley Schoonbaert and snapped a wrister top shelf to give Steinbach a 2-0 lead. Declan Graham also had an assist on the goal.

Winkler came within inches of getting on the board when Coltyn Bates fought for a loose puck below the Pistons goal line, made a power move to the front of the net but slid the puck off of the post and out.

Moments after that chance, the Pistons scored on the power play to make it 3-0. Schoonbaert picked up his 35th goal after Mark Taraschuks shot was stopped but leaked through the goalie. Worrad picked up his second point of the night on the goal.

At the end of the period, Winkler was given a 5 on 3 man advantage opportunity. As they closed in looking to get on the board, the penalty killing trio which consisted of Tyson McConnell, Mark Wilson and Mark Taraschuk stood tall and with the help of a couple of huge blocked shots by McConnell, the Pistons were able to escape the pressure and get out of the period still up 3-0.

In the third, it was a fairly quiet period until Cole Kirkup took a Pistons giveaway the length of the ice and buried a shot to cut the lead to 3-1.

A Flyers power play got them a step closer when a wrister from CJ Corazzin found the back of the net from the point to make it 3-2.

Just over a minute later, the Pistons responded when Koop chipped the puck out of his own zone to winger Brendan Martin who rushed into the Flyers zone, slammed on the breaks and directed a shot towards the net hoping for a rebound. 

There was one.

A big one.

Riese Gaber went to the net with his stick on the ice and buried the backhander for his 24th of the year giving Steinbach a two-goal lead. Martin and Koop had the assists.

Again, the Flyers didn't go away and again on a power play, this time a five on three, Mitch Dyck shot a rocket top shelf to cut the lead to 4-3 with just over four minutes to go.

Winkler's comeback bid would be cut short when they took a couple of penalties late and couldn't get any more momentum as the Pistons held on for a hard-fought 4-3 win.

Matthew Thiessen collected the win making 18 saves. The power play was 1 for 4 while the penalty kill was 5-7.

Coaches Notes

Paul Dyck could feel the energy from the start of the game and as the regular season winds down, it's the type of energy he expects going forward. "It felt like a playoff game tonight. Both teams skating, the crowd into it, it was a great atmosphere and I thought we played up to that."

Dyck was impressed with the game overall but pointed out Will Koops contributions on both sides of the puck. "We talked about it after he went to that World Junior A Canada West camp, he felt that he found an extra gear which we saw on his breakaway goal. He also played very well defensively. He paid attention to the details which he's been doing a lot. Since the move to the middle, he's really flourished in all areas of the game."

Learning Something New

A very strange play took place at the end of the second period. After Brady Tatro had his stick knocked out of his hands, teammate Easton Bennett picked it up and tossed it to him.

Tatro caught it and continued to play but the play was quickly blown down.

According to the rules, a player (Bennett) cannot play with more than one stick, which results in a two-minute penalty. Because he tossed the stick in the air and Tatro caught it, Tatro was also given a penalty. 

"I knew the rule" Dyck said after the game. "I was in total agreement with the call." It was labelled to both Bennett and Tatro as an Illegal Stick. Several players professed to not knowing that rule. "Well, I don't think any of our guys will be making that mistake again in their careers," Dyck said with a laugh after the game.

Afternoon Show

The game was very well attended with lots of families which stuck around after for a skate with the Pistons. It was a few moments where the players could act like the kids they were skating with. 

"It's always special, I mean look down there, that little girl has maybe never been on skates before and there's Darby Gula helping her. Or Will Koop pushing a stroller around the ice." Dyck said while up in the press box after the game. "It's special for the kids but it's special for our guys as well. It's something they won't ever forget and they love to be a part of."

Up Next - Home Stretch

Steinbach has only 5 more games left in the regular season. The first matchup is on the road against the Winnipeg Blues on Wednesday night at Bell MTS Place.

The Pistons are back at home over the weekend as they welcome in the Swan Valley Stampeders on Friday and the Dauphin Kings on Saturday night.