PREVIEW: Pats look to even first round series in game four Wednesday night
The Regina Pats (1-2) are back in action on Wednesday night to host game four against the Swift Current Broncos (2-1). Puck drop is at 7 p.m. at the Brandt Centre. The Pats hosted game three on Monday and fell 4-1, with the victory Swift Current leads the best-of-seven series two games to one. The game can be heard starting at 6:35 with Bennett Dunlop Ford Pats Hockey on 620 CKRM. The game will also be broadcast on Access 7.
| Playoffs Comparison | Regina | Swift Current | |
| Record | 1-2 | 2-1 | |
| Goals For/Against | 3/8 (-5) | 8/3 (+5) | |
| Powerplay | 7.1% (1/14) | 15.0% (3/20) | |
| Penalty Kill | 85.9% (17/20) | 92.9% (13/14) | |
| Team Save Percentage | 0.904 | 0.972 | |
| Leading Scorer | Steel/Hebig (2 points) | Tyler Steenbergen (1-3-4) | |
| Leading Scorer (Defence) | Mahura/Fleury (0-1-1) | Colby Sissons (1-1-2) | |
| Scoring by Period (1st-2nd-3rd-OT) | 1-0-2-0 | 5-0-3-0 |
| Regular Season Comparison | Regina | Swift Current | |
| Record | 40-25-6-1 | 48-17-5-2 | |
| Goals For/Against | 245/235 (+10) | 284/213 (+71) | |
| Powerplay | 24.1% (71/294) | 29.4% (82/279) | |
| Penalty Kill | 75.8% (235/310) | 79.5% (248/312) | |
| Team Save Percentage | 0.896 | 0.912 | |
| Leading Scorer | Cameron Hebig (41-49-90) | Glenn Gawdin (56-69-125) | |
| Leading Scorer (Defence) | Josh Mahura (22-47-69) | Colby Sissons (13-58-71) | |
| Scoring by Period (1st-2nd-3rd-OT) | 68-83-86-7 | 97-88-89-6 |
The Lead Up: Pats drop game three at home
The Regina Pats fell 4-1 in game three of their first round playoff series with Swift Current on Monday night at the Brandt Centre. The Broncos jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first on goals from Colby Sissons and Glenn Gawdin. The game stayed that way until five minutes into the third when Tanner Nagel put home a rebound to make it 3-0 Swift Current. Emil Oksanen got that goal back for the Pats, his first of the playoffs, but just 42 seconds after that Glenn Gawdin snapped home his second of the night to make it 4-1 and that was the final as the Broncos took a 2-1 series lead. Regina outshot Swift Current 40-24 in the loss, the powerplay was oh for five and the penalty kill four for five. Ryan Kubic made 20 saves for the Pats, Stuart Skinner 39 for Swift Current.
Head to Head
The Regina Pats earned a split on the road in Swift Current to start the series but the Broncos took back home ice advantage with a win in Regina in game three. Swift Current has scored eight goals in the series, Regina has three. The Regina powerplay has gone one for 14 and the penalty kill 17 for 20. Cameron Hebig has two goals and Sam Steel two assists to lead the Pats offensively while Ryan Kubic is 1-2 with a 2.67 goals against average and a .904 save percentage. The Broncos are led by Tyler Steenbergen who has a goal and three assists in the series. Glenn Gawdin is next with three points. Stuart Skinner is 2-1 with a 1.01 goals against average and a .972 save percentage.
Playoff First
Pats forward Emil Oksanen scored his first career WHL Playoff goal in the Pats loss in game three on Monday. The 19-year-old beat Stuart Skinner five-hole midway through the third period to get the Pats on the board. Oksanen led all Pats rookies during the regular season with 16 goals and 48 points in 58 games.
Penalty Kill Solid in Round One
The Pats had another good night on the penalty kill on Monday night going four for five. For the series, Regina has gone 17 for 20 on the penalty kill, good for an 85.0% efficiency. The Pats went six for eight in game one and seven for seven in their win in game two in Swift Current.
Upcoming Schedule
Game 5, Pats @ Swift Current – Friday March 30, 7 p.m. – Innovation Credit Union Iplex (CKRM)
Game 6, Pats Vs Swift Current – Saturday March 31, 7 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM) If Necessary
Game 7, Pats @ Swift Current – Monday April 2, 7 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM) If Necessary
