The Steinbach Pistons scored with 17 seconds left in overtime to hand the visiting Winkler Flyers a 3-2 loss on Monday afternoon. The Flyers led the game for all but three minutes of regulation and were able to earn an important point in the standings in their final regular season game against the Pistons.

Winkler is four points back of the Waywayseecappo Wolverines in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. 

The Wolverines, who lost 3-2 in a shootout to the Swan Valley Stampeders, have six games left while the Flyers have four. 

Trying to put an end to their six game losing streak, the Flyers travelled to Steinbach for a holiday matinee in search of their first win of the season against their rivals from the east. It was a near perfect start for the Flyers as Everett Bestland jumped on a loose puck and scored the game’s first goal just 40 seconds into the opening period.

The score remained 1-0 for Winkler well into the third period when Josh Kagan cashed in a rebound for his 10th of the season to move the Flyers in front by two goals with 8:46 left in regulation. Just minutes later, the Pistons caught a break when a shot from the corner deflected off a Flyers’ defenseman and past Riley Morgan to cut Winkler’s lead to 2-1.

Having killed off six penalties already in the game, the Flyers were forced to play a man down again late in the third period which gave the Pistons a great chance to pull even for the first time since the opening minute of the hockey game. With just over two minutes left on the clock, Steinbach defenseman Declan Graham’s shot from the point sail through the crowd in front of Morgan and in, tying the game 2-2.

In the minutes to follow, the momentum was securely with the home team but the Flyers managed to get the game to overtime and pick up at least one of the two points available.

In the extra period, the Flyers maintained possession and generated chances for almost the entire five minute period. However, with 17 seconds left before the game would head to a shoot-out, the Pistons jumped on a Winkler turnover and scored on the ensuing two-on-one, completing the comeback and handing Winkler a 3-2 loss.

Riley Morgan made 36 saves in the game as the Pistons outshot the Flyers 39-25. Winkler went 0-for-5 on the power-play and 6-for-7 on the penalty-kill.

The Flyers next game will be on the road against the Neepawa Natives on Friday night. You can catch the game live on Country 88 and online at www.pembinavalleyonline.com with Matt Friesen’s pregame show getting underway at 7:25pm.

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