PREVIEW: Pats, Blades Set for Season-Series Finale with Playoff Position on the Line
Regina, Sask. – The Regina Pats and Saskatoon Blades meet tonight for the sixth and final time this season, with both clubs eager to bounce back from losses and gain critical ground in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
WHL REGULAR SEASON GAME #58 | Regina Pats (22-28-6-1) vs. Saskatoon Blades (30-24-4-2)
| Date | Time | Saturday, February 28 | 6:00pm CST |
| Place | Brandt Centre |
| Watch / Listen Live | Victory+ | 620 CKRM |
| Live Stats | Click Here |
| Game Notes | Click Here |
| Lineups | Click Here |
| Magazine | Click Here |
| Roster | Click Here |
| What’s Next | Next Game: Tuesday, March 3 vs. Medicine Hat |
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GAME PREVIEW
Both teams enter tonight’s matchup coming off setbacks on Friday. The Pats dropped a 4–1 decision on the road against the Brandon Wheat Kings, while the Blades were shut out 4–0 by the Prince George Cougars.
For Saskatoon, the loss snapped a three-game winning streak that featured victories over Red Deer, Calgary, and Penticton. The shutout was just their second of the season, with the first coming back on Dec. 7 — a 4–0 defeat at the hands of Regina.
In Regina’s loss to Brandon, Ruslan Karimov continued his strong stretch, scoring for a second straight game to reach 16 goals on the season. Goaltender Taylor Tabashniuk gave the Pats a chance to stay within striking distance, turning aside 31 of 35 shots. Regina narrowly outshot Brandon 36–35 but couldn’t convert on three power-play opportunities, finishing 0-for-3, while going 2-for-3 on the penalty kill.
Tonight’s game carries significance for both sides as the regular season winds down. Through 47 games, the Pats hold a 22-28-6-1 record with 51 points, sitting seventh in the Eastern Conference — four points clear of the Moose Jaw Warriors in eighth.
The Blades occupy sixth place with 66 points and are five points back of Brandon for fifth, making every remaining game crucial as they jockey for playoff positioning.
The season series has been nothing short of dramatic. Regina holds a 2-1-2 record against Saskatoon, with three of the five meetings requiring overtime. The most memorable came on Feb. 11 at the SaskTel Centre, when Maddox Schultz scored with just 18 seconds left to force overtime before completing the hat trick with the game-winner in a 7–6 Pats victory.
Regina has been strong of late, winning six of its last eight games overall, and will look to carry that momentum into tonight’s rivalry showdown as the final chapter of the season series is written.
WHO TO WATCH
Ruslan Karimov enters tonight with goals in back-to-back games and has found the scoresheet in three of his last four outings. The forward has been producing consistently, totaling 3G-2A-5PTS over his last five games.
Cadn Brown was a difference-maker the last time these two teams met on Feb. 11, recording 3G-3A-6PTS in a memorable win. On the season, he leads the way with 57 points (28G-29A) in 53 games.
Maddox Schultz made history in the previous matchup, becoming the youngest player in Pats franchise history to record a hat trick. His clutch performance, including the tying goal late in regulation and the overtime winner, makes him another key player to keep an eye on in tonight’s season-series finale.
COMING UP
The Pats continue their three-game homestand on Tuesday, March 3 at 7:00 p.m. with a matchup against the Medicine Hat Tigers, opening its March schedule for the final month of the regular season.
Tickets are available by stopping by the Brandt Centre Box Office or at reginapats.com.
