BRANTFORD – The score was the same, but the pain nowhere near comparable for the Whitby Dunlops Wednesday.

Despite losing 4-3 to the Lloydminster Border Kings Wednesday afternoon, the exact same result as in last year’s Allan Cup championship game, the Dunlops are still alive – if not well – at this year’s senior national championship tournament in Brantford.

The road to winning the big prize is much more difficult now, as the Dunlops finished last in their three-team pool and will have to play a quarterfinal game tomorrow against the host Brantford Blast at 7:30 p.m.

Semifinals are Friday and the championship game goes Saturday at 3 p.m.

The Dunlops scored all three of their goals with the man advantage Wednesday, yet it was still the power play that was their undoing, as they had a whopping 23 opportunities.

Justin Cardwell, who sat out Monday’s 4-4 draw against Dundas while resting minor injuries, scored twice. Jay McAuley had the other Whitby goal.

The Border Kings tied the game in the final minute of the second period and Ryan Rivett scored the winner midway through the third, one of two power-play goals for Lloydminster in the game.

The Dunlops outshot the Border Kings 39-32.

Dundas and Shawinigan finished first in their respective pools and have earned byes into Friday's semifinals.