DAUPHIN, MB - Dauphin's Madden Murray tallied a hat-trick and for the second straight game the Kings did not give up a Power Play opportunity in a 6-3 win over the Neepawa Titans.
The Kings scored twice in the first, once in the second and three times in the third.
The first period saw the Kings jump out to a 1-0 lead when an Aidan Malone shot floated wide of the Neepawa net. The ricochet came right to Ethan Stewart (16) on the other side and he finished to get Dauphin off to a solid start. They'd continue their offensive pressure as the period wore on and Matthew O'Sullivan (23) would be the next to find the back of the net to make it 2-0 Kings, this time on the man advantage. Just past the midway point Neepawa would score to cut the lead in half, 2-1. Then in the final five minutes the Titans would even things back up, sending the two teams to the intermission tied 2-2.
In the second the Kings came out strong and generated a couple chances. Eventually they were rewarded when Rylan Gage set up Daniel Helary for his 17th of the season on an in tight chance that he was able to roof on the backhand. The goal came just before the six minute mark to make it 3-2 Kings. However, like the first period, Dauphin would again give up their lead. Neepawa scored with just over two minutes left in the second to tie it at three heading to the final frame.
Just 13 seconds into the third period a horrible turnover by the Titans resulted in a breakaway for Madden Murray (11) who made no mistake to give his team a 4-3 lead. Murray didn't stop there, five minutes later he gave the Kings some breathing room off a great shot from the face off dot. Dauphin carried their 5-3 lead until the final minute where Madden Murray (13)(EN) became the first King since Jordan Bax to record a hat-trick during the regular season. The final was 6-3 Dauphin.
Shots finished at 42-35 for the Kings. Bryson Yaschyshyn took the win in goal for his club.
Special Teams, as mentioned, were solid for Dauphin. The Kings finished 1 for 3 on the Power Play and did not allow a man advantage opportunity for the Titans.
The Kings are now 29-21-2-0 on the season and bump two points ahead of Wayway for second in the West Division. Both teams are even in games played (52).
Next up for the Kings is a contest on home ice Sunday against the Portage Terriers. It's the Kings' second to last home game of the regular season and goes down at 4:00pm! The first 100 kids into the rink on Sunday get a FREE Kings Mini Stick courtesy of RBC in Dauphin!
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