Kings lock horns with Oil Capitals

Photo Credit – Pederson Photographic

—

—

The Dauphin Kings are back playing against teams in the West Division after they won four of six games against East Division opponents.

Tonight the club opens a weekend home-and-home against the Virden Oil Capitals, starting at Tundra Oil & Gas Place. It’s the first meeting between the two clubs this season and a big four points are up for grabs over the set with the West being so close.

At 7-4 entering the game, the Oil Capitals have a slim one-point lead over Dauphin for second in the division. The OCN Blizzard is on the top with 19 points. The Kings have been heading in the right direction as they’ve won four of their last six games and have scored 27 times in that span. Virden has two straight wins and is 2-2 in their previous four games.

Special teams are something to look at coming into the contest. The Oil Capitals lead the league at nearly 28% on the power play while the Kings have scored just three times on their last 38 chances and are near the bottom. On the penalty kill; however, Dauphin has an edge as statistically, Virden is the worst team while a man down.

Virden is 4-2 on home ice this season while Dauphin is 2-4-1 away from Credit Union Place. Dauphin recently picked up Marko Belak and he is eligible to make his debut between the pipes this weekend for the Kings.

Marko was a finalist for The Frank Brimsek Award last year, which is awarded annually to the state of Minnesota’s top senior goaltender. Marko was outstanding in his league last year as he went 23-5 with Cretin-Derham Hall. He had a superb 1.82 goals-against average with a .930 save percentage.

By the numbers:

Dauphin

GF – 39
GA – 48
PP% – 12.5%
PK% – 75%
Leaders – Jayden Harris 6g, 4a / Alex Senf 5g, 4a / Mason Smith 2g, 7a / Anthony Bax 2g, 7a