PREVIEW: Pats wrap eight game road stretch in Lethbridge Saturday
The Regina Pats (37-25-5-1) wrap up a stretch of eight straight games on the road on Saturday night in Lethbridge against the Hurricanes (32-29-6-0). Puck drop is at 8 p.m. Regina time at the Enmax Centre. The Pats won a fourth straight game on Friday night, 2-1 in overtime over the Kootenay ICE and clinched a playoff spot in the process. The Hurricanes dropped a 4-1 decision at home to Red Deer on Friday and have lost four in a row. Tonight is the fourth and final meeting on the season between the Pats and Hurricanes, Regina holds a 1-2-0-0 record in the season series. The game can be heard starting at 7:35 with Bennett Dunlop Ford Pats Hockey on 620 CKRM.
| Regular Season Comparison | Regina | Lethbridge | |
| Record | 37-25-5-1 | 32-29-6-0 | |
| Goals For/Against | 232/225 (+7) | 233/239 (-6) | |
| Powerplay | 24.3% (68/280) | 25.2% (66/262) | |
| Penalty Kill | 75.1% (220/293) | 77.2% (213/276) | |
| Team Save Percentage | 0.894 | 0.892 | |
| Leading Scorer | Cameron Hebig (40-49-89) | Jordy Bellerive (44-46-90) | |
| Leading Scorer (Defence) | Josh Mahura (22-45-67) | Calen Addison (9-52-61) | |
| Scoring by Period (1st-2nd-3rd-OT) | 65-77-84-6 | 64-87-79-1 |
The Lead Up: Sam Steel scores twice in Pats playoff clinching, 2-1 win over Kootenay
The Regina Pats clinched a playoff spot for a fifth consecutive year thanks to a 2-1 overtime win in Cranbrook, B.C. over the Kootenay ICE on Friday night. Sam Steel broke a scoreless tie for the Pats late in the second period when he wired his 29th of the season into the top corner and it was 1-0 after 40 minutes. The ICE drew even in the third on a two on one when Cameron Hausinger scored and the game needed overtime in a 1-1 tie. It took just 31 seconds for the Pats to take the extra point, Sam Steel scored from the slot for his second of the night and 30th of the season to give the Pats the 2-1 victory. Regina outshot the ICE 34-20, the powerplay was 0/2, the penalty kill 4/4 and Max Paddock made 19 saves.
Head to Head
Tonight is the fourth and final meeting between the Pats and Hurricanes, Regina is 1-2-0-0 in the season series. Lethbridge has outscored Regina 10-6 in the three games, the Pats powerplay has gone one for 15 and the penalty kill nine for 15. Cameron Hebig and Libor Hajek each have four points against Lethbridge this year, Jake Leschyshyn has three points while four others have two points. The Hurricanes are led by Jordy Bellerive who has six points against Regina. Taylor Ross has five while Brad Morrison and Calen Addison have three points.
Clinched
The Pats have clinched a playoff spot for a fifth consecutive season thanks to their win over Kootenay on Friday night. The club has made it to the second round of the post-season in three consecutive years, reaching the league final in 2017. The Pats have played in 48 playoff games over the last five seasons, winning 28 of them. Regina currently holds down third place in the East Division, if the playoffs started today, the Pats would take on Swift Current in round one.
Steel Red Hot
Pats Captain Sam Steel is riding a 10 game point streak entering Saturday night. The 19-year-old has scored nine goals and has nine assists in that stretch for 18 points. Steel has been a plus player in all 10 of those games, going plus 18 in that stretch. The Anaheim Ducks prospect is currently tied with Brett Lysack for 11th on the all-time franchise point list with 334 points.
Upcoming Schedule
Pats Vs Prince Albert – Wednesday March 14, 7 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM)
Pats Vs Swift Current – Friday March 16, 7 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM)
Pats @ Swift Current – Saturday March 17, 7 p.m. – Credit Union Iplex (CKRM)
