WINNIPEG, MB - For the second straight game the Dauphin Kings played with a shortened lineup and it showed in a 5-2 loss to the Winnipeg Blues.

Dauphin was up in the game twice but fatigue set in in the final period and allowed Winnipeg to pull away.

In the first Dauphin played well and were rewarded when Grady Hobbs tallied his 12th of the campaign. Dauphin would take that lead to the middle period.

In the second the Kings continued to play solid but the Blues would tie it up midway through the frame. Avery Smith (7) would respond less than a minute after to give Dauphin a 2-1 advantage. A late power play would give the Blues their second goal of the afternoon to make it 2-2 heading to the final 20 minutes.

The third period saw a well rested Blues team pull ahead of the three lined Kings group, scoring three unanswered goals to take the affair.

Dauphin's penalty kill struggled on Sunday, allowing two goals against while their power play couldn't capitalize, going 0 for 3.

Zach Grouette took the loss between the pipes, stopping 30 of 35 shots while his team fired 25 on the Winnipeg net.

The Kings will now return to Dauphin and take two days off before returning to play on Wednesday in Neepawa against the Natives. The Kings' record now sits at 8-10-3-2 on the season. Face off Wednesday at the Yellowhead Arena is 7:30pm!

#ForTheCrown

   Austin Lamotte - 1A

  Avery Smith - 1G

Grady Hobbs - 1G