RECAP: Pats Complete Comeback, Defeat Wheat Kings 4-2
Regina, Sask. – The Regina Pats came back from a 2-0 deficit and defeated the Brandon Wheat Kings 4-2 on Sunday inside the Brandt Centre, snapping the clubs three game losing-streak.
Borya Valis scored the tying goal early in the third and Tanner Howe’s second of the night gave the Pats a 3-2 lead in the final eight minutes of the frame, leading to the Pats 10th victory of the season.
Ewan Huet was also spectacular in net, making 10 saves in the first and 26 saves overall for his sixth victory of the season. Parker Berge chipped in with a pair of points (1G-1A), as his empty netter sealed it on the Wheat Kings two-man advantage with less than 30 seconds to play. The Pats special teams also proved to be the difference as well, going 2-4 on the power play and 3-3 on the penalty kill.
The Wheat Kings on their only goals from Rylen Roersma (1G-1A) and Roger McQueen (1G-1A) in the loss. Ethan Eskit got the start, allowing three goals on 28 shots as the Wheat Kings dropped their eighth straight road contest.
Meanwhile, the Pats improve to 8-3-1-1 on home ice this season.
FULL KEN SCHNEIDER POST-GAME INTERVIEW
FINAL SCORE: Pats 4, Wheat Kings 2
Click for the Official WHL Box Score
THE GOALS
First Period
1-0 Wheat Kings at 4:46 – Rylen Roersma (8), assisted by Roger McQueen // A turnover in the Pats zone led to an odd-man rush for the Wheat Kings and Roersma fired the puck past Huet’s glove to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Second Period
2-0 Wheat Kings at 8:39 – Roger McQueen (13), assisted by Rylen Roersma // Another turnover in the Pats end ended up on McQueen’s stick, he got in deep, avoided a check, and beat Huet to give the Wheat Kings a 2-0 lead.
2-1 Pats at 17:09 – Tanner Howe (12), assisted by Parker Berge & Tye Spencer (PP) // The Pats worked the puck around the offensive zone and Howe let a howitzer go from the point that beat Eskit to get the Pats on the board late in the middle period down 2-1.
Third Period
2-2 Pats at 4:18 – Borya Valis (6), assisted by Carson Haynes // The Pats entered the Wheat Kings zone with numbers and Valis sent a pass toward the front of the Brandon goal that was deflected past Eskit to get the Pats on even terms at 2-2.
3-2 Pats at 12:01 – Tanner Howe (13), assisted by Tye Spencer & Keagan Slaney (PP) // Spencer sent a cross-ice pass near the front of the Wheat Kings net that glanced off a skate to Howe who made no mistake and buried the puck to give the Pats a 3-2 lead with the powerplay marker.
4-2 Pats at 19:29 – Parker Berge (6), assisted by Ewan Huet (SH-EN) // Huet deflected the puck to the left side of his zone and Berge fired the puck the length of the ice and into the empty cage to seal the game at 4-2.
THE STATISTICS
SOG: Regina – 8-8-13-29 | Brandon – 11-11-6-28
PP: Regina – 2/4 | Brandon – 0/3
Face-offs: Regina – 32 | Brandon – 24
THE GOALTENDING BATTLE
Regina: Ewan Huet ( 26 saves / 28 shots)
Brandon: Ethan Eskit ( 25 saves / 28 shots)
THE 3 STARS
First: Tanner Howe – Pats (2G)
Second: Parker Berge – Pats (1G-1A)
Third: Roger McQueen – Wheat Kings (1G-1A)
JUST NOTES
- Tanner Howe scored twice and now has scored in back-to-back games. The Pats captain has points in three of his last four games (4G-2A).
- Parker Berge has collected 17 points (3G-14A) in his last 13 games.
- Borya Valis scored his sixth of the season which gives him six points (3G-3A) in his last four games.
- Tye Spencer picked up his first point in three games and added a second assist later in the game for a two-point night (2A).
- This was the first time that the Pats have outshot their opponent in a game since October 22, a 2-1 loss at Swift Current (a span of 7 games).
- The Pats lead the season series 3-1 over the Wheat Kings. This season the Pats have outscored them 22-to-16.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Pats play their last home game in November on Wednesday, November 15 at 7:00 pm when they host the Edmonton Oil Kings at the Brandt Centre Get your tickets here.
