PREVIEW: Pats on the road for game five against the Broncos
The Regina Pats (2-2) are back on the road on Friday night for game five against the Swift Current Broncos (2-2). Puck drop is at 7 p.m. at the Innovation Credit Union Iplex. The Pats hosted game four on Wednesday and skated to a 6-3 victory at the Brandt Centre to tie the series 2-2. 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 | 2-2 | 2-2 | |
| Goals For/Against | 9/11 (-2) | 11/2 (+2) | |
| Powerplay | 16.7% (3/18) | 23.1% (6/26) | |
| Penalty Kill | 76.9% (20/26) | 83.3% (15/18) | |
| Team Save Percentage | 0.902 | 0.933 | |
| Leading Scorer | Steel/Oksanen (4 points) | Tyler Steenbergen (2-4-6) | |
| Leading Scorer (Defence) | Cale Fleury (0-3-3) | Colby Sissons (1-2-3) | |
| Scoring by Period (1st-2nd-3rd-OT) | 3-3-3-0 | 5-2-4-0 |
| 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 even series with 6-3 Wednesday
Regina evened their first round series with Swift Current at two games on Wednesday night thanks to a 6-3 win at the Brandt Centre. Regina got goals from Cameron Hebig, his third, and Emil Oksanen, his second, to lead 2-0 after one. The Broncos got it to within one early in the second, but the Pats would explode for three straight goals in response. First, Jared Legien ripped one top corner for his first, then Libor Hajek scored his first while on the powerplay and finally Jake Leschyshyn buried his first and the Pats chased goaltender Stuart Skinner, leading 5-1. Swift Current got one back and it was 5-2 heading to the third. The Broncos added another powerplay goal with 7:13 left, but Jake Leschyshyn would seal the victory for Regina with an empty net goal, his second and 6-3 was the final score. Emil Oksanen led the Pats with a goal and two assists, Sam Steel and Jake Leschyshyn both had two points while Ryan Kubic made 26 saves.
Head to Head
The Regina Pats earned a split on the road in Swift Current to start the series and the Broncos did the same in Regina to tie the series 2-2. Swift Current has scored 11 goals in the series, Regina has nine. The Regina powerplay has gone three for 18 and the penalty kill 20 for 26. Sam Steel and Emil Oksanen lead the Pats with four points in the series, three others have three points. Ryan Kubic is 2-2 with a 2.75 goals against average and a .902 save percentage. The Broncos are led by Tyler Steenbergen who has six points in the series. Glenn Gawdin and Aleksi Heponiemi are next with five points. Stuart Skinner is 2-2 with a 2.28 goals against average and a .937 save percentage.
Playoff Milestone
Pats Captain Sam Steel put up two assists in game four on Wednesday to reach 50 career playoff points in the WHL. The 19-year-old signed Anaheim Ducks prospect has scored 17 goals and has 33 assists in 41 career playoff games. He has four assists in this series against the Broncos.
Offence Breaks Through
The Pats doubled their goal total from the first three games of the series with six in game four Wednesday. Regina had scored three goals on 106 shots in the first three games but exploded for six goals on 28 shots in game four. The Pats powerplay had scored once in the first three games but went two for four in game four.
Upcoming Schedule
Game 6, Pats V Swift Current – Saturday March 31, 7 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM)
Game 7, Pats @ Swift Current – Monday April 2, 7 p.m. – Innovation Credit Union Iplex (CKRM) If Necessary
