It would be an understatement to say the Dauphin Kings are about to enter a critical part of their schedule.
With 12 games left this season, Dauphin is set to open a weekend set on Friday against a stiff test as they battle the Steinbach Pistons twice. Friday’s game will be at Credit Union Place before the two teams battle once again on Saturday evening in the Automobile City.
While Steinbach has already booked their berth in the Turnbull Cup playoffs, the Kings have yet to do so as they are in a heated race in the tightly contested MGEU West Division.
Waywayseecappo leads the division at 57 points with Dauphin just two points behind and they’re joined by Virden and OCN, who both have 55 points. The Stampeders put up a nine-spot on Wednesday and they have 54 points.
It’s the third game of the season between Dauphin and Steinbach with the Kings winning a game earlier this year at Credit Union Place before Steinbach responded with a win at the T.G. Smith Centre.
Dauphin is coming off a tough 2-1 loss against the Blizzard last Saturday. Following this weekend, Dauphin will play another crucial two games next weekend against the Oil Capitals before the team plays another big West Division game against Swan Valley on March 1. Of Dauphin’s remaining 12 games, 10 of them come against teams that are currently inside the playoffs.
Eight of Dauphin’s remaining 12 games also come on the road and the club has struggled at times on the road, going 9-10-2. The Kings; however, have secured some huge road victories this year, one coming against Portage, one against Niverville, and they shut out the Wolverines at the Arena Complex.
That means Dauphin has four home games at Credit Union Place remaining, a venue that has been friendly to Dauphin this season as the club is 17-7-0-1 on home ice. Their 35 home points are the most in their division and it’s tied for the second-most in the league.