RECAP: Spencer Scores Overtime Winner, As Pats End Trip With 4-3 Win
Calgary, Alta. – The Regina Pats capped off their Alberta road trip with a 4-3 overtime win over the Calgary Hitmen on Sunday afternoon inside the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Tye Spencer completed a three point performance (2G-1A) with the overtime winner, leading the Pats to their fourth overtime win this season, and their 17th victory overall. Ewan Huet made 49 saves on 52 shots, with 19 saves in the first, 13 in the second and 16 in the third.
Sam Oremba picked up his third multi-goal performance of the season, scoring twice. Tanner Howe (3A), Tye Gibson (2A) and Braxton Whitehead (2A) also had multi-point games in the win.
The Hitmen trailed 3-1 in the third frame before scoring two straight goals to gather a point, while their two game winning-streak came to a close. Carter Yakemchuk scored twice to reach the 20 goal mark and Ben Kindel (1G-1A) scored the tying goal. Alex Garrett made 30 saves in the loss.
The Pats now trail the Hitmen by five points in the Eastern Conference standings.
FULL INTERVIEW WITH ASST. COACH EVAN MCFEETERS
FINAL SCORE: Pats 4, Hitmen 3 in OT
Click for the Official WHL Box Score
THE GOALS
First Period
1-0 Pats at 3:07 – Sam Oremba (12), assisted by Tanner Howe & Braxton Whitehead // Howe and Oremba broke in on a two-on-one, and two one-handed passes later, Oremba beat Garrett to give the Pats an early 1-0 lead.
Second Period
2-0 Pats at 44 seconds – Sam Oremba (13), assisted by Tye Spencer & Braxton Whitehead (PP) // The Pats worked the puck around on the powerplay and Spencer directed it to the front of the net where Oremba was able to knock home his second of the game to give the Pats a 2-0 lead early in the second.
2-1 Hitmen at 1:37 – Carter Yakemchuk (19), assisted by Ben Kindel & Alex Garrett // The initial shot was blocked and a streaking Yakemchuk was able to chip the puck past Huet to pull the Hitmen back to within one at 2-1.
Third Period
3-1 Pats at 4:29 – Tye Spencer (14), assisted by Ty Gibson & Tanner Howe (PP) // Gibson’s shot from the left point is neatly deflected past Garrett by Spencer to extend the Pats lead to a pair at 3-1.
3-2 Hitmen at 6:40 – Carter Yakemchuk (20), assisted by David Adaszynski // Yakemchuk got the puck along the right boards, spun around skated to the slot untouched, and put a backhander past Huet’s blocker to pull the Hitmen back to within one at 3-2
3-3 Hitmen at 16:19 – Ben Kindel (10), assisted by Keets Fawcett & Reese Hamilton // Huet was able to make a big save to the right of his net but it got him out of position and Kindel wrapped it around to tie the game up at 3-3.
Overtime
4-3 Pats at 3:33 – Tye Spencer (15), assisted by Tanner Howe & Ty Gibson // On a nice feed from Howe, Spencer was sent on a partial breakaway and he made no mistake as he tucked the puck five-hole past Garrett to give the Pats a 4-3 win.
THE STATISTICS
SOG: Regina – 10-10-8-6–34 | Calgary – 19-14-18-1–52
PP: Regina – 2/3 | Calgary – 0/2
Face-offs: Regina – 18 | Calgary – 49
THE GOALTENDING BATTLE
Regina: Ewan Huet (49 saves / 52 shots)
Calgary: Alex Garrett (30 saves / 34 shots)
THE 3 STARS
First: Ewan Huet – Pats (52 shots, 49 saves)
Second: Tye Spencer – Pats (2G-1A)
Third: Sam Oremba – Pats (2G)
JUST NOTES
- Sam Oremba scored twice and in back-to-back games, he continues to add to his career-high goal total (now at 13 goals).
- Tanner Howe has picked up three assists and has points in two straight games. He has 10 points (1G-9A) in his last eight games.
- Braxton Whitehead had a pair of assists, has four points (1G-3A) in his last three games, and has reached the 30-point mark this season (which is a career-high).
- Tye Spencer picked up a pair of goals and an assist. He has six points (4G-2A) in his last four games.
- Ty Gibson had two assists and is on a three-game point streak. He has seven points, all assists, in 10 games since being acquired by the Pats from the Silvertips.
- Ewan Huet made a career-high 49 saves in the win. It was the most shots he has faced in a game at 52. It’s the second time that he has faced 50+ shots. It was also the third time making 40+ saves.
- The Pats ended a 6-game road losing streak with their fourth win away from the Queen City.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Pats’ January schedule closes out on Wednesday, January 31 with their final match-up of the season against the Blades in Saskatoon at 7:00 p.m.
