RECAP: Pats fall 3-2 to Blades in playoff preview

Final Score: Blades 3, Pats 2

Record: 34-29-3-1 (72 Points) 

Seed: 6th – Eastern Conference

Saskatoon, Sask. — The Regina Pats fell 3-2 to the Saskatoon Blades in a round-one playoff preview on Friday inside the SaskTel Centre.

The Pats trailed 2-0 after two and scored two quick goals in the third the nod the game 2-2 before Trevor Wong would score the go-ahead goal midway through the third.

Tanner Howe and Sam Oremba scored for the Pats as their two game winning-streak came to an end. Drew Sim made 28 saves in the loss. The Blades got a two goal game from Brandon Lisowsky as well as a 22 save performance from Austin Elliott.

The Pats first-round opponent is set as they will take on the Saskatoon Blades in the opening round next week. Regina finishes in in sixth while Saskatoon finishes in third.

Below is the full playoff schedule for this series:

*If Necessary

OFFICIAL WHL BOXSCORE 

HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT

Simmer bails out his D with a massive kick save‼️

Still scoreless halfway through the 1st.#LegendsInTheMaking | #REGvsSAS pic.twitter.com/dDBl8C2rCR

— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) March 25, 2023

THE GOALS

First Period

SAS 0-1 at 17:53 — Brandon Lisowsky (36) assisted by Conner Roulette and Blake Gustafson // Gustafson’s long shot bounced off the back boards through Sim’s legs to the front of the net and the puck deflected to Lisowsky who kicked it into an open cage to give the Blades a 1-0 lead late in the first period.

Second Period

SAS 0-2 at 5:19 — Brandon Lisowsky (37) assisted by Trevor Wong and Aidan De La Gorgendiere (PP) // The Blades work it around the offensive zone to Wong who sent the puck to the slot and Lisowsky was able to chip at the puck and redirect it past Sim to give the Blades a 2-0 lead with a powerplay goal early in the second frame.

Third Period

REG 1-2 at 40 seconds — Tanner Howe (35) assisted by Zack Stringer (SH) // Stringer stole the puck at centre ice and sent Howe in on a breakaway, Howe skated in with speed and put a nice backhand over Elliot’s trapper to get the Pats on the board early in the third period, now trailing 2-1.

REG 2-2 at 8:42 — Sam Oremba (10) assisted by Zane Rowan // Oremba skated into the Blades zone and let fly a wrister from the top of the left-wing circle that beat Elliott past his outstretched trapper to tie the game up at 2-2 midway through the third period.

SAS 2-3 at 11:10 — Trevor Wong (25) assisted by Lukas Hansen and Aidan De La Gorgendiere // Wong broke into the Pats zone and took a shot that was initially stopped by Sim but the puck ended up with Wong behind the Pats net where he threw it at the goal and it went off of Sim an into the Pats net to restore the Blades one-goal lead at 3-2.

STATISTICS

SOG: REG — 7-8-9-24 | SAS — 10-10-11-31
PP: REG — 0/2 | SAS — 1/3
Face-Offs: REG — 21 | SAS — 42

GOALTENDING BATTLE

Regina: Drew Sim (31 shots/28 saves)
Saskatoon: Austin Elliott (24 shots/22 saves)

3 STARS

First: De La Gorgendiere (2A, 20-year-old) – Blades
Second: Pillar (20-year-old) – Blades
Third: Gustafson (1A, 20-year-old) – Blades

NOTES

• Connor Bedard did not get on the scoresheet on Friday but still has 142 points on the season which leads the WHL. His 70 goals and 72 assists also lead the league. He has 78 points (43G-35A) in 28 games since returning from the World Juniors. Bedard has also scored nine goals and 17 points over his last five games.
• Tanner Howe scored his second shorthanded goal of the season and has 15 points (7G-8A) in his last 12 games and is riding a five-game point streak.
• Zack Stringer had an assist and now has six points (1G-4A) in his last six games.
• Sam Oremba had a goal and has eight points (2G-6A) in his last 12 games and has points in his last three games.
• Zane Rowan ended a 13-game pointless streak with an assist on Oremba’s goal.

UP NEXT
The Pats return home to conclude the regular season as they host their annual Fan Appreciation game on Saturday, March 25th, puck-drop is 7:00 pm. at the Brandt Centre.