DAUPHIN, MB - A youthful Dauphin Kings lineup put up a great effort but couldn't come away with two points in a 4-2 loss to the Neepawa Titans Friday night.
The game, a meaningless one for both teams when it came to the standings, saw the Kings ice a younger lineup while the Titans put out their full unit.
The first five minutes felt like a feeling out process for both teams. Neepawa would open the scoring just past the five minute mark of the frame. Against a younger Kings team the Titans continued their strong pressure in the opening 20. They'd make it 2-0 in the first and out shoot Dauphin 14-6.
In the second period not much happened until the final five minutes. Neepawa gained their fourth man advantage of the night but Rylan Gage (17), who has been one of the key Dauphin players to step up in the last two months of the season, stole the puck shorthand and walked in with a great shot to make it a 2-1 game through 40 minutes.
The final frame saw Kings back up Piet Mierau get the start for Cole Sheffield who took to the bench for the third. It was a bit of a wild start to the frame as one of Dauphin's AP's, William Spencer, made a clean hit just inside his team's blue line and was chased down by Neepawa 20 year old Tim Tychonick. Spencer held his own. Shortly after Dauphin gained a Power Play on the Tychonick infraction Rylan Gage (18) made them pay, tying up the game at two. All this happening in the opening minute of the third. The Titans would regain their lead 7:30 into the period.
Cole Sheffield stopped 23 of 25 shots. Piet Mierau was solid and turned away 12 of 13 shots in the Dauphin loss. The Kings had 28 total.
Special Teams saw the Kings end the night 1 for 3 on the Power Play and go 5 for 5 on the Penalty Kill.
When it comes to the post season picture things remain unclear and it will come down to games tomorrow. Waywayseecappo won tonight at home against the Winnipeg Blues. So they are one point up on Virden going into Saturday's action. The Oil Capitals are in Neepawa to play the Titans. The Kings host the Wolverines at Credit Union Place tomorrow to close out their season. It's also Rain Check and Awards Night. Plus season tickets for 2025-26 are back on sale at early bird pricers! Don't miss it, puck drop is 7:30pm!
#ForTheCrown
