The Dauphin Kings saw their six-game winning streak snapped on home ice, Sunday, when they fell 3-1 to the Winkler Flyers.
Prior to that, the Kings won their sixth straight contest, 5-2 over the Neepawa Titans, Saturday in Neepawa.
Kings head coach and general manager Doug Hedley didn’t think the Kings played well against Neepawa, stating they got away with some things.
“We got caught standing and watching a bit. Good teams find ways to win and we definitely did that. I think we could have been better. Neepawa pushed hard. They had some good opportunities and (goaltender Austin) Seibel played real well. He made some big saves when he had to. Otherwise, they would have been back in the game,” he said.
That game was a continuation of the way the team has played in recent games.
“The last little while, we’ve been getting away with some stuff and I think we’ve got to get back to doing those little things better,” Hedley said. “Whether it’s getting to the paint to get second shots. Whether it’s putting pucks in behind the D-men, not turning pucks over at their blueline. Last night, we turned pucks over, over and over again and gave them opportunities on the rush. Fortunately for us, Seibel made some big saves when he had to.”
It’s a good way to learn, Hedley added, knowing the team can play with any team in the league.
“The speed is there. When we start moving pucks up ice and we start attacking bluelines with speed, we create some opportunities,” he said.
Winkler, playing their third game in as many days, kept the Kings from generating much in the way of scoring chances, blocking a lot of shots.
“If we had 25 shots total in the game, we probably had 25 blocked,” Hedley said. “Sooner or later, we’ve got to figure out you can’t just bury your head and shoot the puck. You’ve got to get your eyes up, get your chest up and maybe step fake and go around the guy who is sliding at you. In the last seven or eight minutes, they were down before we even shot the puck and we didn’t one time go around them.”
The Kings played better in the third period, using their speed to create chances, but could not solve Winkler netminder Malachi Klassen.
Winkler controlled the play through the first 40 minutes, outshooting Dauphin 30-11, an indication of the slow start by the Kings.
“You’ve got to give them credit. Their goaltender played well and they played well,” Hedley said.
The Kings added defenceman Charlie Sandven, who played eight games with the Minnesota Wilderness of the North American Hockey League.
The Edina, Minn. native brings size to the Kings blueline at six-feet, three-inches and 190-pounds.
“I like him. I like his mobility. He makes good first passes. He doesn’t do too much. He gets pucks up ice and snaps the puck hard. I really liked him and Trey tonight. They both played real well,” Hedley said. “We think he’s going to help our hockey club. I think he’s a real good D-man, moves well and he’s just going to get better and better.”
Forward Gavin Nemis is close to returning from a shoulder injury he sustained at the Showcase.
The Kings have just one game this week, hosting the Portage Terriers, Friday on Ag Night, with more than $10,000 in raffle prizes. Following the game will be a Skate with the Kings, where fans can skate with their favourite player.
Kings notes:
The Manitoba Junior Hockey League still has three teams in the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s top 10. The red hot Steinbach Pistons, 11-0-1-0 in their last 12 games, moved up from no. 8 to no. 4, while the Winkler Flyers dropped two, spots to no. 5. The Kings also dropped in the rankings to no. 9. The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Flin Flon Bombers sit atop the rankings, with a 14-1-1-0 record.
