The Dauphin Kings were bested 3-2 by the Winnipeg Blues in a shootout Friday night.
The Kings were the first to find the board, Matty Greening scored at the halfway mark of the first period on a delayed penalty call. Riese Gaber and Riley Shamray picked up helpers on the goal.
The Blues responded just after the five minute mark of the second period, a perfectly placed shot from Nick Prouty on the pad of Kings goalie Matteo Esposito, kicked out a rebound on to the stick of Dale Goodbrandson for the easy tap in.
The Kings regained the lead before the end of the period. Defenseman Trevor Selk made a heads-up play, realizing Ashton Clark had got behind the Blue defense on the power play unnoticed. The pass landed right on Clark's tape for an easy breakaway where he undressed Blues tender Adam Derochie. Kings goaltender Matteo Esposito also picked up an assist on the power play goal.
The Kings were 1 for 2 on the power play, and killed off all three penalties assessed to them.
In the third Rhett Lough evened the score with just over a minute left to tie the game.
In overtime the Kings had possession of the puck for most of the extra time, but were unable to solve Derochie, which included a magnificent sprawling save on Daniel Chartrand. Derochie stopped 28 shots on the night.
For the first time this season the Kings found themselves in a shootout. Dexter Kuczek scored in the second round of the shootout to give the Blues the lead. Matty Greening scored in the third round to keep the Kings alive after Riese Gaber and Keaton Leininger previously missed.
After Ashton Clark's fourth round miss Levi Cudmore was up to shoot. Cudmore had missed a few good chances in the first and second periods, and was finally able to convert in the shootout, giving the Blues the win.
Matteo Esposito was solid in net for the Kings, stopping 43 shots.
The Kings picked up a point in the loss, and marks the fifth straight game they've earned points in. Since snapping an 11 game losing streak the Kings are now 3-0-2.
The Kings continue their road trip tomorrow when they play the Selkirk Steelers. You can hear that game at 7:20 starting with the Parkland Source for Sports Pregame Show on 730 CKDM.
