In a night where Matthias Smith earned his first shutout for the Dauphin Kings, the team scored plenty as they hammered Melville tonight, 7-0.
The game completed a mini two-game series between the two clubs and it ends with a split. It took Dauphin just 5:27 to score when Cole DeKoninck fired a shot from the point that went off a Millionaire skate in front. Austin Lamotte and Mitchell Joss got the assists.
At the 6:09 mark, Carter Eha scored his first of two goals with an assist going to Landon Russell.
Dauphin kept on coming. Off a rush, Avery Smith placed a beautiful pass on the tape of Leeam Tivers and the B.C. boy did the rest to put Dauphin up 3-0, a lead they held into the second.
Nakodan Greyeyes didn't waste any time by scoring his first of the preseason just 1:28 into the second, with Gavin Wendorf and Lamotte picking up the assists.
"The Lamotte, Greyeyes, Joss line was flying all night," said Mitch Topinka.
Braeden Young next contributed to the pounding at the 6:32 mark. Mattie Boonstra and Brendan Arnold set up Young on the power play as he picked up his first goal of the preseason. The goal also gave Dauphin a power-play goal in their second straight tilt.
Next up, it was one of Dauphin's hottest sticks that scored the team's sixth goal of the game. Avery Smith scored his third of the preseason at the 15:06 mark.
With just 53 seconds left in the second, Carter Eha scored his second of the game and third of the preseason as the Bloomington, Minnesota native continues to make noise for Dauphin. Gavin Wendorf had the primary assist, his second of the game while Brayden Pawluk got his first assist of the preseason.
"Carter has been nothing but impressive since he came. He gets his stick on pucks and he's not afraid to go into the dirty areas," said Topinka on Eha.
Dauphin's six defensemen teamed up to score one goal and earned five assists in the rout.
In his first full game with the team, Matthias Smith made 28 saves. His only other preseason action was last Tuesday against Swan Valley. The former Comox Glacier King of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League made several highlight reel saves throughout the course of the night.
"He stood on his head tonight and he made some saves that he probably shouldn't have," said Topinka on Smith.
"It was a good game, the boys really helped me out front," said Smith on his performance. "It was a lot of fun, that's for sure. I've been saying to myself all camp that I just need to take things one day at a time. When I get the opportunity, I have to show what I can do."
Dauphin returns to the ice on Friday, when they welcome the Neepawa Natives to town.
Ice Chips:
After a 12 penalty night on Saturday, Dauphin only picked up six minor penalties tonight.
Tonight's game was the first time Dauphin had scored more than three goals in regulation.
With their 18 goals, Dauphin has scored more than any other team.
Melville, meanwhile, ended their preseason with a 2-2 record. They begin their regular-season this weekend against the Yorkton Terriers.
