PREVIEW: Pats Close Out Alberta Road Trip in Lethbridge

Regina, Sask. – The Regina Pats wrap up their three-game Alberta road trip tonight as they visit the Lethbridge Hurricanes for the fourth and final meeting of the season between the two clubs.

WHL REGULAR SEASON GAME #63 | Regina Pats (24-30-7-1) at Lethbridge Hurricanes (17-42-2-1)

GAME PREVIEW

Regina enters the matchup holding a 2–1 edge in the season series after earning a 6–4 victory over the Hurricanes last Friday inside the Brandt Centre. Tonight marks the last chance for either team to claim bragging rights in the season set.

The Pats are looking to bounce back after suffering just their second shutout loss of the season on Tuesday, falling 6–0 to the Medicine Hat Tigers at Co-op Place. Despite the scoreline, goaltender Taylor Tabashniuk turned aside 37 shots in the contest as the Tigers outshot Regina 43–16. Carter Casey recorded his second career shutout in the victory, while both teams went 0-for-2 on the power play.

Meanwhile, the Hurricanes come into the contest looking to snap a three-game losing streak after dropping a 7–3 decision to the Moose Jaw Warriors on Saturday. Easton Daneault led Lethbridge with three assists, while Owen Berge, Kayden Longley and Matteo Fabrizi provided the offence with a goal each. The Warriors held a slight 25–22 edge in shots, with Koen Cleaver making 18 saves in the Hurricanes’ crease.

Lethbridge has officially been eliminated from playoff contention and will miss the postseason for the first time since the 2014–15 campaign. The Hurricanes have struggled down the stretch, posting a 2–8–2 record over their last 12 games with five contests remaining on their schedule.

For Regina, the stakes remain high. The Pats currently sit seventh in the Eastern Conference with 56 points, three points ahead of the Red Deer Rebels and five points up on the Moose Jaw Warriors. With the playoff race tightening and the regular season winding down, the two points available tonight carry significant importance as the Pats look to strengthen their grip on a postseason spot against a team below them in the standings.

On another note, the Pats have recalled 2010-born defenceman Cruz Nicolay for tonight’s action as captain Ephram McNutt will be a game time decision. As of right now, the Pats are also missing Jonas Kohn and Jace Egland due to injuries.

CLINCHING SENERIO

If the Pats win tonight, and the Moose Jaw Warriors drop their next two games, the Pats would clinch a playoff berth. Right now, it’s a five point spread between Regina and Moose Jaw. Meaning the Pats need a combination of two points, and two Warriors losses.

The Pats are currently five points up on the Moose Jaw Warriors in the Eastern Conference standings with five games remaining in the Warriors schedule.

The stakes for tonight’s game against the Canes are very high with six games left.

COMING UP

The Regina Pats return home on Saturday, March 14 where they take on the Prince Albert Raiders. The Pats will then travel to Moose Jaw and play the Warriors on Sunday, March 14 at 2pm. The Pats will then rematch the Raiders on Tuesday, March 16 at the Art Hauser Centre.