The Neepawa Natives currently trail the Dauphin Kings three games to none in their Sher-Wood Division playoff series.

 

Dauphin defeated The Natives 4-1 on Tuesday evening on home ice.

 

Natives' coach Bryant Perrier believes his team's opposition is providing a powerful combination of talent and unselfishness to limit his team's ability to produce offence.

 

"They are a talented team and they are as unselfish as any team I have seen in this series," he said. "When you get star players who are completely committed to team defence and fundamentals, it changes the complexion of the series."

 

The Natives, according to their coach, have to maintain composure.

 

"We have to hold it together and think about the scenario," he said. "We have them coming back into our building and we have the chance to take them out of their comfort zone on our ice."

 

Perrier says that he is impressed with The Kings' versatility in the series.

 

"They have shown they can play it any way we want to play it, which shows the level of commitment from their side."

 

He is also certain that his group has more to give.

 

"I am not saying the guys aren't trying, because they are," he offered. "But, we are underestimating ourselves a bit. We are off our game and we are not ourselves right now."

 

The Natives' coach gives credit to his opposition for his team's inability to find a true identity throughtout the series.

 

"When a team like Dauphin commits itself to lull you to sleep and puts their own end ahead of scoring, it becomes a real challenge."

 

Perrier says the challenge of game four is a simple formula, but will require perfect execution.

 

"We need our goaltender to steal a game and we need to capitalize on all chances," he said. "If we can play the game with will and desire, we can get the win."

 

"Right now, we are off kilter and we give our opposition credit for putting us in that position."

 

"We won't get back on track without incredible will from our guys."

 

The coach believes that the will that is required is a matter of choice from his players.

 

"We are not down three to none because we can't compete with Dauphin," he said. "We are down in the series because we have not chosen to engage in the will required to beat them."

 

As positive as Perrier has been all season long, he feels he owes the truth.

 

"Battle levels, winning or competing in footraces to pucks, being tough on the puck are all thing that are within our control," he said. "If we want to redeem ourselves on our home ice, then these are areas we will need to really engage in."

 

"Dauphin has elevated their level of play so significantly, that we are going to need to be prepared to muck it up and outwork them."

 

"Once again, it comes down to will."