Steinbach Pistons ready for a battle in first round of MJHL playoffs

A first-round match-up in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) playoffs has rarely felt so meaningful.

With the league staying in division for their quarterfinals the Steinbach Pistons and Portage Terriers, the second and third best teams in the MJHL this season, will be facing off just to advance into the semi-finals.

While Steinbach had a better regular season, finishing eight points ahead of the Terriers with a plus-123 goal difference compared to Portage’s plus-45, the teams should be evenly matched. In five regular season games, the Terriers battled to a 4-1 record, thanks to some outstanding goaltending performances.

In three of those four victories, the Terriers were vastly out-shot, but were able to hold on for the win.

“(Portage) play a physical brand, the games we’ve had with them have been very spirited,” Steinbach head coach and general manager Paul Dyck said after his team’s final game of the regular season.

“You’ve got to earn your ice against that team. We’re going to have to play fast, no question… It’s unfortunate those teams in the current format have to play each other in the first round but it should be a really good series.”

Pistons leading scorer Connor Paronuzzi is confident Steinbach will find post-season success despite the lack of regular season wins against Portage.

“I think they’ve had our number for a couple games this year, but they haven’t seen us healthy much this season at all,” Paronuzzi said.

“We know what they’re going to do. We’ve got to stick with how we play. When we put 60 minutes together as a team, I don’t think anyone else can beat us.”

The Pistons aren’t heading into the playoffs in the best form, with several line-up changes in the last few games of the season. Dyck reported there was an illness running through the team, forcing them to play short-handed at times in addition to the expected slowdown at the end of a season.

“It’s sometimes challenging, you know you’re going to be the number two seed and you’re playing some teams that are out of the playoff picture, it’s only natural that guys lay off the gas a little bit,” Dyck said.

“It’s really hard to gauge. Once you get settled into that one playoff spot, we manage bodies… Now it’s just trying to get healthy for next Friday.”

Steinbach will host game one of the playoffs March 21 in the newly opened Southeast Event Centre. The series will alternate back and forth between Portage and Steinbach, with the Pistons holding home ice advantage.

Games will be in Steinbach March 21, 25, 29 and April 2 if needed, with the Terriers hosting March 23, 28 and 31. Games will be broadcast on Flohockey.com with a subscription, with a free audio broadcast online at DABroadcasting.mixlr.com.

The other East Division playoff match-up sees the Niverville Nighthawks take on the league-leading Winkler Flyers in a re-match of a first-round series from 2022. For the third consecutive year, the Nighthawks are taking on the league’s top team in the first round.

They’ll be on the road to start the playoffs Feb. 21, before hosting game two March 23. Game four is scheduled for March 27, with a game six if needed March 31. Winkler is set to host games March 25 and 29.