RECAP: Pats open playoffs with 6-1 win over Blades
Final Score: Pats 6, Blades 1
Series: Pats lead series 1 game to 0
Saskatoon, Sask. — The Regina Pats opened their first-round playoff series against the Saskatoon Blades with a convincing 6-1 victory on Friday inside the SaskTel Centre.
After the game was scoreless after one, Zackary Stantz opened the scoring early in the second, scoring his first career WHL goal. Connor Bedard led the way up front with three points (2G-1A), while Riley Ginnel, Stanislav Svozil and Tye Spencer rounded out the scoring. Drew Sim made 27 saves in the win.
The Blades got their only goal from Lukas Hansen. Austin Elliott made 19 saves in the game one Blades loss.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT
Sim stretches out with the left pad to keep it scoreless early on!
WHAT.A.STOP.#StandWithUs | #SASvsREG pic.twitter.com/0xy2R27vCm
— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) April 1, 2023
THE GOALS
First Period
No scoring.
Second Period
🚨 ZACKARY. SHANTZ. 🚨
His 1st career goal in @TheWHL is a playoff goal!
What a moment!#WHLPlayoffs | #StandWithUs | #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/ACjcQZI3xr
— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) April 1, 2023
REG 1-0 at 4:11 — Zackary Shantz (1) assisted by Stanislav Svozil and Brayden Barnett // Svozil carried the puck into the offensive zone where he drew both Blades defenders and sent a pass to Shantz who got in alone and made no mistake to bury it to give the Pats a 1-0 lead early in the second period.
Ladies and gentlemen, we present PLAYOFF Connor Bedard 👀
WHAT.A.GOAL.#WHLPlayoffs | #StandWithUs | #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/8V2uJcD8mf
— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) April 1, 2023
REG 2-0 at 13:12 — Connor Bedard (1) assisted by Sam Oremba and Luke Bateman // As Bedard was being hauled down, he put a high shot past Elliot to extend the lead to a pair.
Third Period
Fortunate bounce and we'll take it!
Riley Ginnell dumps it in from centre & it changes direction before bouncing past Elliott to make it 3-0!#WHLPlayoffs | #StandWithUs | #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/qbUM6eM8AC
— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) April 1, 2023
REG 3-0 at 9 seconds — Riley Ginnell (1) unassisted // Off the opening face-off of the third period, Ginnell dumped the puck toward the Blades zone and it eluded Elliott to give the Pats a 3-0 lead very early in the final frame.
SAS 3-1 at 31 seconds — Lukas Hansen (1) assisted by Jayden Weins and Vaughn Watterodt // Hansen got in close and put a high shot past Sim to get the Blades on the board and back to within a pair.
STAN THE MAN!!!
Svozil extends our lead to 4-1 with an absolute shnipe over the glove!#WHLPlayoffs | #StandWithUs | #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/HM58DojjoE
— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) April 1, 2023
REG 4-1 at 9:54 — Stanislav Svozil (1) assisted by Alexander Suzdalev and Connor Bedard // Svozil carried the puck into the offensive zone and fired it far side, off the post and in to give the Pats a 4-1 lead.
Playoff Connor Bedard strikes again!#CB98 just casually slips between the two defenceman & roofs it for yet another marvellous goal 😱#WHLPlayoffs | #StandWithUs | #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/QisAw1I2J9
— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) April 1, 2023
REG 5-1 at 13:27 — Connor Bedard (2) unassisted // Bedard outdid his first goal as he split the defenders and sent it far side past Elliott to extend the lead to 5-1.
REG 6-1 at 17:29 — Tye Spencer (1) unassisted (EN) // From his own end, Spencer hit the empty net to seal the game 6-1.
STATISTICS
SOG: REG — 8-4-13-25 | SAS — 10-13-5-28
PP: REG — 0/0 | SAS — 0/2
Face-Offs: REG — 27 | SAS — 32
GOALTENDING BATTLE
Regina: Drew Sim (28 shots/27 saves)
Saskatoon: Austin Elliott (24 shots/19 saves)
3 STARS
First: Bedard (2G-1A) – Pats
Second: Sim (27 saves) – Pats
Third: Hansen (1G) – Blades
NOTES
- Zackary Shantz scored his first career WHL goal.
- After scoring 71 goals in the regular season, Connor Bedard sniped sniped twice and added an assist.
- Riley Ginnell scored his second career playoff goal.
- Stanislav Svozil scored once and added an assist in his playoff debut.
- Tye Spencer notched his first career playoff marker.
UP NEXT
The Pats continue their first-round series with the Blades when they play game two as Saskatoon on Sunday, April 2 with a 4:00 p.m. puck-drop at the SaskTel Centre.
