A five-game winning streak has propelled the Dauphin Kings into the playoffs.
Dauphin scored a 7-1 win over the Swan Valley Stampeders, Feb. 20 in Dauphin, before blanking the Portage Terriers, 2-0, Friday in Portage.
On Saturday, back in Dauphin, the Kings beat the Niverville Nighthawks, 4-1 clinching a playoff spot.
At 32-14-1-1 for 66 points, the Kings remain in third place, two points back of the Blizzard Jr. A Hockey Club, with two games in hand.
Kings head coach and general manager Doug Hedley said the team has had a busy stretch lately, which resulted in the players being a bit mentally tired against Niverville, Saturday.
“We found a way to win. That’s the biggest thing. We got patient. We got tough on pucks when we had to,” he said. “And what can you say about Sheff (goalie Cole Sheffield). He’s been rock solid for us. He’s been the guy, that’s for sure. No doubt.”
Hedley felt the Kings played a great road game, Friday in Portage, where Sheffield made 25 saves to record his fourth shutout of the season.
“We were more on our toes (Friday) night. We had some good speed. We were relentless on pucks. Hunted pucks, hunted rebounds. We had a good road game,” he said. “But Sheff made some big saves when he had to toward the end of the game to keep that a 1-0 game.”
After taking an early lead, the Kings took a couple of penalties which put them back on their heels.
“And we weren’t really jumping. They were beating us to pucks. But at the same time, we did keep them to the outside a lot of the times. Didn’t give them a lot of quality chances. But we killed some big penalties and the only goal they got was a turnover,” Hedley said. “We had a lot more than we wanted to tonight and if they had taken advantage of them, we would have been in trouble. But we found a way to get it done.”
In just their second season in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, Niverville has been struggling since the start of the new year, resulting in the firing of their head coach and general manager Kelvin Cech.
With Dwight Hirst taking over as head coach and Mike McAulay the interim general manager, the Nighthawks are hoping the change will turn things around.
Hedley has seen a difference in their play from earlier in the season.
“I think they were a hungry hockey club. They were working hard. They’re in a fight for their life in a playoff spot,” he said. “I thought they might come in with a little bit more urgency. I think they had a pretty good second period. We weren’t very good in the second period and they definitely out worked us. But in the third period, we got better.”
The Kings will have a busy week, beginning tonight when they travel north to face the Blizzard in The Pas at 7 p.m.
On Wednesday, they will be in Swan River for a game at 12:30 p.m.
On Friday, the Winnipeg Freeze are in town for a 7:30 p.m. date, and on Sunday, Dauphin travels back to The Pas to play the Blizzard at 7 p.m.
