RECAP: Four-goal first not enough in OT loss to Warriors
REGINA – Two first period goals from Carson Denomie, along with markers from Tom Cadieux, and Cole Dubinsky weren’t enough Tuesday night, as the Regina Pats fell 5-4 in overtime to the Moose Jaw Warriors.
The Regiment came out buzzing in the opening frame at the Brandt Centre, as the two sides faced off for the first time inside the WHL’s East Division Hub.
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But despite racing out to a 4-1 lead after 20 minutes – which included two more points from rookie Connor Bedard– Regina couldn’t find the back of the net the rest of the way, as Daemon Hunt’s game-winner 1:43 into overtime was the final tally in Moose Jaw’s comeback victory.
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“I think that we got up early because of the…right things that we did in the first two games for 60 minutes against PA and then the second 40 against Saskatoon,” head coach Dave Struch said of his squad, who fell to 0-2-1-0 on the season.
“I thought that we did a good job tonight for the majority of the game. We have to learn how to play a little bit better in the second period and at the end of the first in terms of taking penalties, but overall we need to be happy with the effort. There was lots of good execution and it’s a game of hockey – it’s the way things go sometimes.”
For the second time in three games it was the Pats who won the battle on the shot clock, posting 43 shots, 16 of which Warriors starting goalie Boston Bilous faced before being chased from the net less than 12 minutes into the first after surrendering four goals.
Enter Brett Mirwald who stopped all 27 shots he faced to pick up his first career WHL win in relief. That performance gave the likes of Ryder Korczak and 15-year-old Brayden Yager the opportunity to get the Warriors back in the game with three-point nights apiece.
“We had a good first period. (We) played one of our best periods – it was the way we like to play. We just couldn’t find a way to win tonight. We have to bear down and do the little things right in order to get that victory,” said Pats defencemen Ryker Evans, who had a pair of assists.
All told it was another disappointing result for the Pats, who despite playing more than their fair share of quality hockey through nine-plus periods this season, have been rewarded with just a single point.
“They’ve got some good individual players and they played hard. We’ve seen them do it up to this point this season, so we can’t take anything away from that team, but I thought our guys had a lot to build off of tonight,” Struch added.
Regina won’t have to wait long to hit the ice again, as the Regiment return to the Brandt Centre Wednesday night at 8 p.m. CST (AccessNow TV / WHL Live / 620 CKRM) for a matchup with the Swift Current Broncos.
