Game Four Presents Pats with Opportunity
WHL Playoffs Round One Game Four – Lethbridge Hurricanes at Regina Pats
Brandt Centre – Regina, Saskatchewan (7 p.m.)
620 CKRM, WHL Live Webcast
Presenting Sponsor – Fries Tallman Lumber
Regina, Saskatchewan – The Regina Pats (2-1) and Lethbridge Hurricanes (1-2) match up tonight at 7 p.m. in Game Four of their first round series at the Brandt Centre in Regina. The Pats didn’t get off to the start they were hoping for on home ice. In what should have been a key moment for the Pats with a five-minute powerplay, the Hurricanes struck first, shorthanded, off the stick of Giorgio Estephan. The Blue and White finally found a tying goal in the second period when Cole Sanford scored on a two-man advantage. In the third period, Sam Steel gave the Pats their first lead with another powerplay goal after a great setup from Sanford and Adam Brooks. Brooks helped add some insurance, feeding Rykr Cole for a tip-in goal and a 3-1 lead. Lethbridge brought the heat late and pulled within one off an Andrew Nielsen goal. That was as close as they came as the Pats held on for the 3-2 win and 2-1 series lead. Tune in to tonight’s game on 620 CKRM at 6:35 p.m.
Reminder, if you are a Season Ticket Holder or purchased a Playoff Package. The correct ticket for entry to tonight’s game is labeled ‘B’ in the Season Ticket booklet or ‘#2’ for playoff packs.
Three Pats have points in all three games in these playoffs. Adam Brooks, Cole Sanford and Sam Steel. Brooks leads the way with three multi-point games totaling eight points (3G, 5A) in three games while Sanford has five (1G, 4A) and Steel has four (2G, 2A). Plenty of players in the league are off to strong starts with 15 players picking up points in their first three playoff games.
Offence was no trouble for the Pats and Hurricanes in their regular season series. As we’re always told, playoffs are a different animal and the stats back it up. In their regular season series, Regina and Lethbridge averaged 80.75 shots per game and 11.25 goals (in regulation) per game. Despite a nine-goal Game One, the numbers have tightened considerably. The teams have combined to average 58.3 shots per game, a difference of 22.45 shots per game. The scoring has dipped to an average of 5.67 goals per game through the first three playoff games.
Game Three marked the first time in six contests between the Pats and Hurricanes that the team scoring first did not win the game. Giorgio Estephan’s shorthanded goal opened the scoring last night, but the Pats went on to score three straight and eventually won 3-2. The Pats also went against the grain winning on home ice. The Blue and White were just the fourth Eastern Conference team to win on home ice with 12 home games having been played.
Fans attending tonight’s game can pick up their 2015-16 Pats Yearbook at the doors as well as a Pats noisemaker. It’s also Wiener Wednesday, meaning 2-for-1 hot dogs at Brandt Centre concessions. Tickets for tonight’s game are available at reginapats.com, the Brandt Centre Box Office and Safeway locations throughout Regina.
