The Dauphin Kings hit the ice on Friday night and when they do, they’ll be looking to snap their three-game losing streak.
For the first time in 2022, the club plays at Tundra Oil and Gas Place against the Virden Oil Capitals. Dauphin has won three of four meetings against them this season, all in the first half of the season.
In their game this week, Dauphin made some critical errors that led to Swan Valley scoring goals and ultimately, earning their fourth straight win. Dauphin will also go up against the league’s top goal scorer for the first time this season as Nathan Driver was acquired by Virden at the trade deadline. He has 24 goals this year, two of which have come in his first two games with his new team.
Dauphin remains atop the West Division by one point over Waywayseecappo while the Oil Capitals are in a tight race for a playoff spot as they enter Friday’s contest in a tie for the fourth and final spot in the division alongside the Neepawa Titans. Neepawa is in Swan Valley for a pair of games this season.
To note, Virden is the only team in the league with a losing record yet they still have a goals differential of +3, the only team that is below .500 and positive in that category. The two teams will play four times against each other in the next two weeks and then they won’t meet again in the regular season. Aidan Brook, Nakodan Greyeyes and Logan Calder will play their second game with the team this season after all three made their debuts on Wednesday night.
By the numbers:
Dauphin
GF – 127
GA – 81
PP% – 26.7
PK% – 85.2
Leaders – Kaden Bryant 21g, 19a
Colby Jaquet 8g, 28a
Logan Calder 19g, 14a
Virden
GF – 122
GA – 119
PP% – 19.7
PK% – 74.6
Leaders – Braden Fischer 21g, 26a
Nathan Driver 24g, 17a
Dylan Halliday 20g, 10a