NEEPAWA, MB - The Dauphin Kings scored the game's first three goals then cruised to a 4-2 win over the Neepawa Natives Wednesday night.

Dauphin scored two in the opening period. Carter Sawchuk (9) treated the fans with a great backhand goal less than a minute into the affair. Then about three minutes later Nakodan Greyeyes (11) tallied on the power play in his first game back in the lineup after suffering a minor injury.

The Kings would take their 2-0 lead to the middle frame where they'd score again when Cole DeKoninck (9) notched a power play goal after Grady Hobbs won a battle at the side of the Neepawa net, kicking the puck into the crease. Neepawa would score before the period was out to make it a 3-1 tilt.

In the third Dauphin would pull away when Grady Hobbs (13) finished a nice pass from Nakodan Greyeyes to make it 4-1. The Natives would get a few power play chances in the final frame and score on one of them to make it 4-2.

Matthias Smith was solid in goal for Dauphin. He turned aside 26 of the 28 shots he faced while his team had 33 on the Neepawa net.

Dauphin's power play and penalty kill were both on opposite sides of the spectrum again. The man advantage scored twice while the penalty kill gave up two.

The win puts the Kings at 9-10-3-2 on the season and keeps them in 8th place heading into the weekend. They're now four points behind Virden for 7th with two games in hand.

Next up for Dauphin is another swing south to the Winnipeg area. On Saturday they'll tangle with the Blues and then on Sunday they'll go further south to Winkler and battle the Flyers. Saturday's game is a 2:00pm start while Sunday goes at 7:30pm!

#ForTheCrown

   Cole DeKoninck - 1G, 1A

  Grady Hobbs - 1G, 1A

Nakodan Greyeyes - 1G, 2A