A power-play goal by Jack Rogers at 8:28 of the first period stood up as the winning goal for the Steinbach Pistons Friday night in Steinbach as the Pistons went on to blank the Dauphin Kings 2-0 to take a 3-2 series lead in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League finals.
Braden Birnie, with his leading 11th goal of the post-season, added an empty netter with five seconds remaining in front of a packed house at the T.G. Smith Centre in Steinbach as the Kings were in desperation mode trying to get the equalizer.
Will Hambley was absolutely superb in net for Pistons making 34 saves to post the shutout. The Kings outshot the Pistons 12-3 in the third period. Carson Cherepak stopped 27 of the 28 shots he faced for the Kings.
Game 6 in the series will be played Sunday at 6 p.m. in Dauphin as the Pistons will attempt to win their third Turnbull Cup in the past nine years. If and a seventh and deciding game is required, it will be played Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. in Steinbach.
The winner advances to represent the MJHL at the Centennial Cup National Junior A Championship, beginning May 19 at Estevan, Sask.
The Carillon
