The Steinbach Pistons took a 2-1 series lead over the Dauphin Kings on Tuesday night in a 5-4 victory after Quinton Pepper scored the game winner just 55 seconds into the first overtime period.
Steinbach got off to a quick start on the road with Ty Paisley opening the scoring for the second time in this series, giving the Pistons a 1-0 lead 1:55 into the first.
Two minutes later the Kings would respond on the powerplay when Brayden Dube squeaked one through Simon Harkness, tying the game at 1-1.
Another quick response from the Pistons would restore their one-goal lead when Quinton Pepper pounced on a rebound at the side of the net on the powerplay for his 6th of the postseason.ZachThe first period scoring parade would continue when Mathew Rathbone dumped the puck into the Pistons end off the glass. The puck took a favorable Kings bounce and beat Harkness to tie the game up at 2-2.
With just 39 seconds left in the first, Cooper Rice would chip the puck off the helmet of Kings goaltender, Carson Cherepak, giving the Pistons a 3-2 lead heading into the second period.
Logan Calder beat Simon Harkness down low for his 6th of the playoffs to tie the game up at 3-3 early in the 2nd. Just over six minutes later, Cordell Coleman was sprung on a shorthanded breakaway and made no mistake in beating Harkness to give the Kings their first lead of the game.
Despite the Kings outshooting the Pistons 20-8 in the 3rd, it was Steinbach who would tie the game at 4-4 when Bryce Kilbourne took a drop pass from Jack Rogers and blasted it through Carson Cherepak.
Steinbach would take a pair of penalties mid-way through the 3rd but the Kings were unable to capitalize and the game would require overtime.
Just 55 seconds into the extra frame on a 2-on-1, Zach Power found the stick of Quinton Pepper who chipped a backhand over the shoulder of Cherepak to give the Pistons a 5-4 win and a 2-1 series lead.
Game four is set for Wednesday night at Credit Union Place in Dauphin at 7:30.
