PREVIEW: Pats Return Home for Marquee Matchup with Silvertips

The Regina Pats (40-6-6-1) return to home ice on Tuesday night to take on the Everett Silvertips (32-12-8-2). Puck drop is at 7 p.m. at the Brandt Centre. The Pats were last in action on Saturday night in Red Deer, winning its 11th straight game, 4-3 in overtime over the Rebels. The Silvertips were also in action on Saturday in Moose Jaw and beat the Warriors 2-0. Tonight is the first and only meeting between the two clubs this season. The game can be heard on 620 CKRM with Bennett Dunlop Ford Pats Hockey beginning at 6:35 p.m.

Lead Up: Mahura Sinks Former Team in Pats 11th Straight Win
Anaheim Ducks prospect Josh Mahura scored the overtime winner against his former team and the Pats won their 11th straight game, 4-3 in Red Deer over the Rebels on Saturday. The two clubs were tied 1-1 heading to the third period. However 26 seconds in, Adam Brooks scored his 31st to give the Pats the lead. Red Deer responded with two powerplay goals to go ahead 3-2. 17 seconds after that, Austin Wagner potted his 25th to tie the game and that forced overtime. 3:04 into the extra frame, Josh Mahura finished off a two on one rush on the back hand, through the five hole of Riley Lamb to give the Pats the two points. Adam Brooks had a goal and two assists to lead the Regina offence. Connor Hobbs had a goal and an assist while Tyler Brown made 23 saves and the Pats improved to 40-6-6-1 on the season.

Head to Head
Tuesday night will feature a matchup of two of the top teams in the WHL. The Pats enter action, first overall in the league with 87 points in 53 games and the Silvertips are second in the U.S. Division with 74 points in 54 games. Regina leads the league in goals scored with 279 while Everett has given up the least goals at 127. Conversely the Silvertips have scored 170 goals, 16th best and the Pats have given up 160. That is fifth best in the WHL and the lowest goals given up in the Eastern Conference. Regina boasts the league’s best powerplay at 33.2%, Everett ninth at 21.8%. The Silvertips have the best penalty kill at 85.4% and the Pats are sixth at 80.6% with a league leading 18 shorthanded goals.

Pats Set Franchise Mark
The Regina Pats won their 40th game of the season on Saturday night in Red Deer. They reached the milestone in the 53rd game of the season. That has set a franchise record for fastest to 40 wins. The 1980-81 Pats held the record previously with 40 wins in 57 games (40-17-0). Saturday’s win was the clubs 21st road victory of the year. That has also set a franchise record for a season. The 1979-80 and 1983-84 Pats won 20 games on the road which was the previous record.

Leschyshyn Lost For the Year
The Regina Pats Hockey Club announced Monday, forward Jake Leschyshyn will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury. The 17-year-old suffered the injury on February 3 in Saskatoon. “We are extremely disappointed for Jake” said Pats Head Coach and GM John Paddock. “He was having a great season and has been a big part of our success so far this year.” Leschyshyn was enjoying a career year with 17 goals and 40 points in 47 games. He was a member of Team Cherry at the 2017 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in late January. The NHL’s Central Scouting Service ranked Leschyshyn number 31 in North America in the midterm rankings for the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Upcoming Schedule
Pats @ Swift Current – Wednesday February 15, 7 p.m. – Credit Union Iplex (CKRM)
Pats @ Brandon – Friday February 17, 7 p.m. – Westman Place (CKRM)
Pats @ Moose Jaw – Saturday February 18, 7 p.m. – Mosaic Place (CKRM)