PREVIEW: Pats kick off four game road trip against Kootenay

The Regina Pats (7-5-1-0) start a four game road trip on Tuesday night against the Kootenay ICE (5-6-1-0). Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m. at Western Financial Place. The Pats saw their four game winning streak come to an end in their last game on Saturday, 5-2 to Vancouver. The ICE meanwhile won in overtime in their last game, 6-5 over the Swift Current Broncos, also on Saturday. Tonight is the first of four meetings between the Pats and ICE in 2017-18. The game can be heard starting at 6:35 with Bennett Dunlop Ford Pats Hockey on 620 CKRM.

The Lead Up: Pats win streak halts at four in loss to Vancouver
The Regina Pats saw their four game win streak come to an end in a 5-2 loss to the Vancouver Giants on Saturday night at the Brandt Centre. Vancouver scored twice in the opening frame to lead 2-0 after 20 minutes. Regina got one back in the second off the stick of Emil Oksanen, his 10th and it was 2-1 heading to the third. In the final frame, the Giants scored twice in the opening seven minutes to extend the lead to 4-1. Braydon Buziak drew the Pats back to within two with a shorthanded goal for his first of the year and it was 4-2. Regina would pull the goaltender while on the powerplay in the dying moments and the Giants would seal it with an empty net goal and take the game 5-2. The Pats went oh for three on the powerplay in the loss and the penalty kill was one for three. Max Paddock made 45 saves on 49 shots for Regina who were outshot 50-35 in the contest.

Head to Head.
The Pats went 3-1-0-0 against the ICE in the 2016-17 season. Three of the four games went to overtime with the Pats winning twice on the road and losing once at home. Sam Steel and Nick Henry each had eight points in the season series. Heading into tonight’s first of four meetings, the Pats have won six of nine games through in the month of October and are four points back of Swift Current for first in the East Division. The ICE meanwhile have won three of their last four and are tied with Prince Albert for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with 11 points. Tuesday will mark the first time Pats forward Tanner Sidaway plays against his former team.

Buziak on the Board
Pats forward Braydon Buziak picked up his first goal of the season on Saturday night against the Vancouver Giants. The 19-year-old stole a pass at his own blueline on the penalty kill and went in to score on a shorthanded breakaway. The Battleford, Saskatchewan product has a goal and three assists for four points through the first 13 games of the year. For his career, Buziak has 12 goals, three of them coming while shorthanded. His one shorthanded goal so far this season is tied for third in the Western Hockey League. One back of the league leaders, Brett Howden of the Moose Jaw Warriors and Matteo Gennaro of the Calgary Hitmen.

Upcoming Schedule
Pats @ Lethbridge – Wednesday October 25, 7 p.m. – Enmax Centre (CKRM)
Pats @ Red Deer – Saturday October 28, 7 p.m. – Enmax Centrium (CKRM)
Pats @ Edmonton – Sunday October 29, 4 p.m. – Rogers Place (CKRM)