PREVIEW: Pats wrap four game home stand against Calgary Saturday

The Regina Pats (22-19-4-0) wrap their four game home stand on Saturday night against the Calgary Hitmen (13-24-5-1). Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m. at the Brandt Centre. The Pats picked up a 3-1 win on home ice Friday night over the Medicine Hat Tigers while the Hitmen lost 4-1 in Brandon to the Wheat Kings on the same night. Tonight is the third of four meetings between the two clubs in 2017-18, The Pats hold a 2-0-0-0 record so far in the season series. The game can be heard starting at 6:35 with Bennett Dunlop Ford Pats Hockey on 620 CKRM.

The Lead Up: Kubic leads Pats to victory Friday
Ryan Kubic made 47 saves and Cameron Hebig scored the game winner in his debut as the Pats got by the Medicine Hat Tigers 3-1 on Friday night at the Brandt Centre. Regina opened the scoring when Josh Mahura picked up his 13th on a shot from the blue line and it was 1-0 after one. The Tigers found the game tying goal in the second when Mark Rassell tipped in his 35th and it was 1-1 heading to the third. In the final frame, Cameron Hebig scored his first with the Pats and 31st of the season on a beautiful toe drag snap shot into the top corner to make it a 2-1 game. Sam Steel added an empty netter late as the Pats picked up a big two points in a 3-1 final. Ryan Kubic was outstanding making 47 saves while Josh Mahura paced the offence with a goal and an assist. Regina was outshot 48-31, the powerplay was oh for three and the penalty kill two for two in the victory.

Head to Head
Tonight is the third of four meetings between the Pats and Hitmen with Regina winning the first two meetings, once at home and once on the road. The Pats have outscored Calgary 8-3 in the season series and Koby Morrisseau leads the club with three points in the two contests. Five other Pats have two points against Calgary. The Hitmen are led by Vladislav Yeryomenko who has three points against Regina while Tristen Nielsen has two points.

Hebig makes immediate impact
One of the Pats new additions, Cameron Hebig showed up in a big way in his first game in a Regina uniform on Friday night. The overage forward scored the game winning goal early in the third period against Medicine Hat, his 31st goal of the year. Hebig finished the game with four shots on goal and was a plus one.

Fleury Streaking
Pats defenceman and Montreal Canadians prospect Cale Fleury is riding a four game point streak entering Saturday night. The 19-year-old has five assists in that stretch and is up to 30 points for his season. Fleury has played in 24 games since being acquired from the Kootenay ICE, scoring twice and adding 18 assists for 20 points. In the nine games since the Christmas break, Fleury has points in seven of them, picking up a goal and eight assists.

Upcoming Schedule
Pats @ Prince Albert – Wednesday January 17, 7 p.m. – Art Hauser Centre (CKRM)
Pats Vs Moose Jaw – Friday January 19, 7 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM)
Pats @ Saskatoon – Saturday January 20, 7 p.m. – Sasktel Centre (CKRM)