DAUPHIN, MB - Another slow start hurt the Dauphin Kings in a 4-0 loss to the Nighthawks in Niverville Saturday night.

In the opening 20 minutes the Kings again started slow. In the first half of the frame it was Cole Sheffield standing tall. Making some great saves and keeping Dauphin in it when they were being out shot 5-2 through the first 10 minutes. In the second half the Kings battled back on the shot clock but it was Niverville opening the scoring with 6:30 minutes to play. Dauphin continued to pick up the play late but again the Nighthawks were the ones to find the back of the net with nine seconds to go. They'd take a 2-0 advantage to the middle frame.

The second period saw the Kings come out hot. The dominated the first four minutes, outshooting Niverville 7-1. The momentum was slowed when the Nighthawks got their third man advantage of the night just before the five minute mark and then get another shortly after. Those to chances killed Dauphin's momentum and Niverville would score shortly after they expired. The Nighthawks would take that 3-0 lead to the last period.

In the third there wasn't a whole heck of a lot for both teams. Niverville would ice the game late with an empty netter to make the final 4-0.

Special Teams were heavily in favour of the Nighthawks. Dauphin had just two man advantages on the night with one of them being very short in the first period. They finished 0 for 2, obviously, while Niverville was 0 for 6.

As mentioned, Cole Sheffield was back in goal for the Kings Saturday. He was not the problem in the loss. He stopped 25 of 28 shots he faced. His team had 28.

The loss, the Kings' second straight, drops them to 28-12-1-1 on the season. Dauphin concludes their weekend road swing tomorrow when they take on the Flyers in Winkler. The start will be the latest of the weekend with puck drop slated for 7:30pm.

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