PREVIEW: Pats Look to Complete First Round Sweep in Calgary

The Regina Pats (3-0) look to complete the sweep of their first round WHL Playoff series tonight in game four against the Calgary Hitmen (0-3). Puck drop at the Scotiabank Saddledome is at 7 p.m. The Pats won games one and two of the series on home ice Friday night, 5-2 and Saturday 5-1. Then picked up a win in game three on Tuesday, 5-2. The game can be heard on 620 CKRM with Bennett Dunlop Ford Pats Hockey beginning at 6:35 p.m. It will also be broadcast on the WHL on Shaw and Access 7.

Lead Up: Steel’s Five Point Night Give Pats 2-0 Series Lead
Sam Steel scored three times and Tyler Brown made 41 saves to give the Pats a 5-2 win in game three against the Calgary Hitmen on Tuesday night. Regina leads the best-of-seven series three games to none. Steel scored twice in the first as part of a three goal period. Dawson Leedahl added another and it was 4-0 after 2. In the third, Steel completed the hattrick with a shorthanded goal to make it 5-0. Calgary got two back later in the third but Regina held on for the 5-2 win and are a win away from reaching the second round. Tyler Brown was fantastic making 41 saves for his third win of the series. The Regina powerplay was two for four and the penalty kill five for six while Calgary outshot the Pats 43-34 in the defeat.

Series At A Glance
The Pats carry a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series heading into game four tonight. Regina has scored 15 goals through three games while the Hitmen have five. The Pats have gone four for eight on the powerplay (50 per cent) and the penalty kill is 11 for 13 (84.6 per cent), with two shorthanded goals. Regina has put 116 shots on goal through three games, the Hitmen have 92. Sam Steel leads all WHL playoff scorers with nine points, four goals and five assists. Adam Brooks and Connor Hobbs are next in the series with six points while Dawson Leedahl has five points. Tyler Brown is 3-0 with a 1.67 goals against average and a .946 save percentage. Calgary is led by Jake Kryski, Tyler Mrkonjic, Jake Bean and Andrew Fyten who have two points each. Cody Porter is 0-2 with a 4.60 goals against average and a .871 save percentage. Kyle Dumba started game three and holds a 0-1 record with a 5.00 goals against average and a .857 save percentage. Game five in the series, if necessary, will be played Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Brandt Centre.

Steel Named CHL Player of the Week
The Canadian Hockey League Tuesday, announced that Anaheim Ducks prospect Sam Steel of the Regina Pats is the CHL Player of the Week for the first week of playoff action ending March 26, after scoring once with five assists for six points in two games and a plus-minus rating of plus-5. Steel helped the CHL’s top ranked Pats open the 2017 WHL Playoffs with a pair of victories on home ice against the Eastern Conference’s second Wild Card Calgary Hitmen in their first round best-of-seven series. Steel picked up an assist in Friday’s 5-2 victory in Game one, then recorded a five-point performance in Saturday’s Game two scoring once with four assists as first star of the 5-1 win. Steel followed that up with a hatrick in game three on Tuesday, scoring twice in the first and once in the third, a shorthanded tally. Steel finished a plus three in the contest and is plus eight so far in the post season.

Upcoming Schedule
Game 5, Pats Vs Calgary – Sunday April 2, 4 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM) If Necessary
Game 6, Pats @ Calgary – Monday April 3, 7 p.m. – Scotiabank Saddledome (CKRM) If Necessary
Game 7, Pats Vs Calgary – Wednesday April 5, 7 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM) If Necessary