The Steinbach Pistons used a pair of first-period goals scored less than a minute apart and defeated the Virden Oli Capitals 2-1 on Saturday night to win the Turnbull Cup final round series 4 games to 2. 

It was a chess match between two teams that gave everything they had in front of nearly 1,600 people, including many from Steinbach who made the trip to watch game 6.

As expected, Virden came out strong in the first and pushed the action, but didn't get many terrific scoring chances thanks to the Pistons' strong defensive efforts.

A couple of power plays didn't produce much with the exception of one play where Drew Worrad slid a puck back door to a streaking Braden Purtill who just missed the short side.

The Oil Caps got the all-important first goal of the game on a power play of their own. Ben Dalke cashed in to make it 1-0 Virden, but in the process woke the sleeping giant of the Pistons' quick strike offence.

First, it was Riese Gaber walking out from the corner, slipping a shot home to tie the game 1-1. Jack Johnson had the lone assist on the goal.

Just 39 seconds later, it was Daniel McKitrick fighting for space below the Oil Caps' goal line and was able to free up the puck and find Brendan Martin out in front for the tap in. Martin's 3rd of the playoffs was also assisted by Tristan Culleton. 

In the second, both teams continued to dump pucks in and push hard on the forecheck. Neither team had much in the way of chances, but both Steinbach's Matthew Thiessen and Virden's Riley McVeigh were solid, stopping every shot fired their way.

It was a similar story in the third but with a few more chances for both sides. 

On a harmless-looking rush by Virden, Rylee Zimmer had a little time and space and snapped off a wrist shot that clanked off the crossbar and went out of play.  You could almost see all the Pistons supports take a giant exhale after the puck went up and out as opposed to down and in.

Steinbach also had a couple chances with again Purtill looking dangerous on the power play but nothing came of it. The best chance perhaps came from Martin who slipped a seam in the slot and had a clear shot that was stopped by the blocking arm of McVeigh.

With just 3:35 left, the Pistons were assessed a holding penalty. Virden would have the man advantage with a chance to tie the game.

Like they have all series, the penalty kill unit stood tall with the likes of goalie Thiessen, captain Purtill, Tanner Mole, Tyson McConnell, Mark Wilson and Mark Taraschuk holding the fort and not giving the Oil Caps anything.

As the final minute was announced, Virden pulled the goalie in a last-ditch attempt to get things squared away.

The Pistons stood up and forced the Oil Caps to dump pucks in and it was the defenders with the relentless puck pursuit that refused to let the Oil Caps even touch the puck, let alone set something up in the offensive zone.

It was that same relentless puck pursuit on the forecheck that forced Virden to ice the puck with just 6 seconds left in the third period.

Time ticked away and the Steinbach Pistons, for the second time in franchise history, were on top of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League winning game 6 2-1 and the series 4-2.

The power play finished 0-5 while the penalty kill was 3-4 including that huge kill at the end of the game.

Thiessen made 28 saves on the night and was mobbed by teammates as soon as the horn sounded, much to the delight of the Altona native and his family who was in attendance. 

The ice was flooded with parents, supporters, board members and staff.

There were a lot of smiles.