A five-game winning streak has the Dauphin Kings back on top in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s MGEU West Division.
The latest victories came Friday, 5-3 over the Waywayseecappo Wolverines in Dauphin, and Saturday, a come-from-behind 3-2 shootout victory over the Virden Oil Capitals in Virden.
In Friday’s win, 901 spectators saw the teams trade first-period goals, with Aidan Brook and Trey Gnetz netting Dauphin’s goals, while Luke McCarthy and Garett Zasitko replied for the Wolverines.
Three goals in a span of 1:02 early in the third period broke the game open for Dauphin.
Logan Walker scored at 2:31 of the final frame, followed by Carter Zalischuk 16 seconds later and Alex Senf, 46 seconds after that.
Neo Kiemeney scored on a power play with 47 seconds left to round out the scoring.
Cole Sheffield made 23 saves to earn the win in goal, while Caleb Allen stopped 29 shots in taking the loss.
On Saturday, Josh Lehto staked Virden to an early lead on the power play, 3:58 into the first period.
Nolan Chastko made it 2-0 for Virden on another power play, 2:27 into the second period.
Dauphin pulled to within a goal when Havryil Simchuk scored with 2:25 left in the second and Gabriel Bugeaud tied it on a power play with six seconds left in the stanza.
After a scoreless third and overtime, the teams went to a shootout, where Jordan Bax and Alex Senf with the deciding goal in the fourth round scored for Dauphin.
Chastko had Virden’s lone goal in the shootout.
Sheffield made 39 saves to earn his 11th win of the season. Eric Reid took the loss after making 34 saves.
Dauphin improves to 12-2-0-0 on the season and sit two points ahead of Virden.
They will face the Neepawa Titans tonight, followed by a rematch, Saturday. Both games are in Neepawa.
Sunday, the Kings will host the Winkler Flyers at 4 p.m.
Kings court:
Friday’s win against Waywayseecappo and the 500th career win in the MJHL for Kings head coach and general manager Doug Hedley, joining Doug Stokes, Don MacGillivray, Blake Spiller and Ken Pearson in the 500-win club . . . The Kings moved up four spots in the Canadian Junior Hockey League Top 20 rankings. Dauphin now sits at no. 6, while Winkler moved up two spots to no. 3. Steinbach did not move at all, remaining at no. 8.
