DAUPHIN, MB - The Dauphin Kings kick off a three game in three night swing in the southern part of the province tonight when they take on the Steinbach Pistons.
The Kings, winners of their last two, go into Steinbach looking to continue to inch closer to a playoff spot and first place in the West Division. If the Kings were to have success this weekend they could end up coming out of it with a playoff spot clinched. It's the first of two three game in three night stretches this month for Dauphin. They'll do it all again in two weeks.
Game time tonight from the HyLife Centre in La Broquerie is 7:00pm!
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TONIGHT'S MATCH UP
KINGS (28-11-1-0) - 1st in West
It's the third meeting of the regular season between the Kings and Pistons. So far Dauphin is 1-0-1-0 against Steinbach this season with both those games at Credit Union Place. The two teams will face off again later this month when the Kings again kick off a three game three night stretch on February 21st.
The Kings come into this evening six points up on Northern Manitoba for top spot in the West Division. Dauphin is also 22 points ahead of Waywayseecappo who are sitting just outside the post season picture. With just 14 games left in their year the most the Wolverines could get to when it comes to points is 63. So as of tonight the Kings are just six points away from clinching a spot in the post season.
Dauphin will look for success on the road when it comes to their Special Teams. Right now they sit with a Power Play at 24.9% while their Penalty Kill is at 80.5%.
Cayden Glover (33G, 19A) remains out with an upper body injury but Naaman Hofer (5G, 39A) is expected to return to Dauphin's lineup tonight.
PISTONS (30-10-2-1) - 3rd in East
Times have changes since the Dauphin Kings and Steinbach Pistons met back in early December. Back then the Pistons were the top team in the East Division. Now they've slipped into a tie for second place with the Portage Terriers and both teams are currently four points back of Winkler for first overall. Steinbach does have two games in hand on the Flyers.
Steinbach had hoped to be in their new arena by this point of the season, scheduling the back half of their campaign to be home heavy on the calendar. That's not the case and the Pistons likely won't see action in their new arena until the end of the season or even playoffs. Either way Steinbach is currently on a three game home stand and their longest trip remaining this season is when they go to Virden in March. Travel is very low maintenance for the Pistons the rest of the way.
Special Teams have the Pistons at 24.6% on the Power Play and 83.3% on the Penalty Kill.
Connor Paronuzzi (19G, 44A) leads Steinbach and the MJHL in scoring with 63 points.