The Dauphin Kings used a five goal second period to down the Virden Oil Capitals 7-2 on Thursday night, taking a 3-0 lead in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League Best-of-Seven Sher-wood Division Final.
The Kings got goals from seven different players in the contest including Ryan Cooper, Tyler Garrioch, Brayden Cuthbert, Dylan Butler and Hudson Morrison in the second period.
Jordan Greig and Artsiom Kalashnikov had a goal and an assist each for the Oil Capitals while Adam Iwan has pulled after allowing the fourth Dauphin goal at the 13:00 mark of the second period.
Iwan stopped 23 of 27 shots with Kyler Beckett stopped 13 of 16 shots in relief in what his first appearance of the post-season.
Virden are now on the brink of playoff elimination, and will need to win Game Four on home-ice Saturday night to extend the series (7:30 p.m., Tundra Oil & Gas Place).
Also Thursday, Liam Bilton had two goals and an assist to pace the Winnipeg Blues to a 7-2 win over the Steinbach Pistons.
The Blues now lead the Addison Division Final 3-0.
