DAUPHIN, MB - The Dauphin Kings battled back from a 4-1 deficit in the second period and grabbed a point in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Steinbach Pistons Friday night.
The first 20 minutes saw things pretty uneventful for the first half. Dauphin had a Power Play but couldn't score. Later in the frame the Pistons would get their first man advantage and score on it. Steinbach did control most of the period and it was clear on the scoreboard with the shots 10-3 in favour of the Pistons after one.
Steinbach would double their lead less than 30 seconds into the second period. Then just under five minutes later they'd score again to make it a 3-0 game. The Kings would struggle to generate chances but just past the midway point in the frame Ethan Williment (12) would capitalize on a loose puck out front to make it 3-1. The goal gave the Kings some jump but the wind was quickly taken out of their sails when Steinbach made it 4-1 with less than five minutes to go in the period. Joey Kubas (4), however, would give the Kings more life late in the period. The American scored with 14 seconds left to make it 4-2.
The third period had the Kings come out firing and was clearly their best period. At one point they were out shooting the Pistons 4-0 in the frame with a handful of scoring chances. They were rewarded late in the period when Rylan Gage notched his 13th of the season to make it 4-3, then Matthew Haun (4) tied it up with 33 seconds left. Dauphin controlled the period for the most part, especially late.
The two teams would go to overtime and Dauphin carried things, outshooting Steinbach 3-0 in the fourth period, but nothing was solved.
In the shootout Simchuk, Bugeaud and Thomas all failed to score for the Kings while Steinbach's Fuchs tallied to give the Pistons the extra point.
Cole Sheffield took the loss in goal for the Kings but was solid despite the result. The Ontario product kept his team in it at times when things looked bleak. Sheffield stopped 19 of 23 shots. His team had 26 shots.
Dauphin's Power Play failed to score Friday, it went 0 for 2. Steinbach was 1 for 3.
The loss moves the Kings to 28-11-1-1 on the season. They'll get back to work Saturday night when they visit the Niverville Nighthawks for the first time this season. Game time is slated for 7:00pm.
#ForTheCrown
