

DAUPHIN, MB - The Dauphin Kings begin a stretch that may very well define their season when they take on the Oil Capitals in Virden tonight.
It's the start of a schedule that will see the Kings play 13 games in the next 24 nights. More than one game every other day for the next weeks. The swing will take them to February 23rd and sees them play seven games one the road and six games at Credit Union Place and includes two three game in three night trips.
Tonight they begin their weekend which will see them play two games. First in Virden this evening and then a big tilt back in Dauphin tomorrow against the Northern Manitoba Blizzard.
First the Kings will look to respond from their disappointing effort in a 4-2 loss on Ukrainian Night last Saturday to those same Oil Capitals who continue to battle for the league's final playoff spot.
Opening face off this evening is slated for 7:30pm from Tundra Oil & Gas Place.
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TONIGHT'S MATCH UP
KINGS (26-10-1-0) - 1st in West
Diving more into the schedule for the Kings over the next month, it was not designed like how it looks now. All three of Dauphin's postponed games from earlier this season have been placed into the month of February because that's all the Kings and the teams they have to make up games with could work with.
In fact all of the postponed games will be made up almost within a week of each other. First the Kings visit the Winkler Flyers on February 9th (Postponed Jan. 17). Then they're home to Swan Valley on February 12th (Postponed Dec. 15) and then they welcome Norman to town February 18th (Postponed Jan. 5).
Dauphin will look to keep on improving on their Special Teams over the next 23 days. Their Power Play ranks 2nd at 26.1% while their Penalty Kill is 6th in the MJHL at 81.9%.
Cayden Glover opens this big stretch leading the Kings in scoring with 33 goals and 19 assists for 52 points. That total has him 2nd in the MJHL.


OIL CAPITALS (16-23-1-0) - 4th in West
The Virden Oil Capitals enter the night tied for the final playoff spot in the MJHL's West Division. Virden and Waywayseecappo currently hold down the last spot with Swan Valley 10 points back and pretty much out of the mix. The Oil Capitals and Wolverines are 14 points back of both Neepawa and Norman who are tied for second place.
As mentioned before Virden won't see much time on home ice over the final stretch of the regular season. After tonight's contest at Tundra Oil & Gas Place the Oil Caps play eight of 11 games in February on the road.
Virden's Power Play comes into tonight ranked 10th in the MJHL at 18.1% while their Penalty Kill continues to struggle, it sits 12th at 72.7%.
Noel Englot (13G, 18A) leads the Oil Capitals in points coming into tonight with 31.
