RECAP: Pats Suffer 4-2 Loss To Giants
Photo Credit: Keith Hershmiller
Regina, Sask. – The Regina Pats suffered a 4-2 loss to the Vancouver Giants on Friday inside the Brandt Centre.
Despite getting off to a good start with good energy, the Pats fell behind 2-0 after 20 minutes of action. After the Pats made it 2-1 after two, Braxton Whitehead’s second of the night brought the Pats within one at 3-2 midway through the third frame. London Hoilett’s power play marker late in the third made it 4-2.
The line of Whitehead, Zach Moore and Tanner Howe combined for six points this evening, with Whitehead gathering two goals to hit the 10 goal mark. Howe and Moore each had two helpers.
The Giants secured their 17th win of the season, and fourth win in five games. Tyler Thorpe, Connor Levis, Tomis Marinkovic and Hoilett scored for the Giants while Brett Mirwald made 28 saves on 30 shots.
THEY SAID IT
‘It didn’t feel like a 2-0 deficit [in the first period] to be honest, but that’s how it was. I know we’re familiar with playing from behind. Eventually it will catch up to you and tonight it did. I thought we started on time. They got that first goal and then they got one off a skate, and it’s one of those things where you throw the puck at the net and sometimes good things will happen.” – Regina Pats Asst. Coach Ken Schneider
FULL POST-GAME SHOW INTERVIEW WITH ASST. COACH KEN SCHNEIDER
FINAL SCORE: Giants 4, Pats 2
Click for the Official WHL Box Score
THE GOALS
First Period
1-0 Giants at 1:32 – Connor Levis (11), assisted by Mazden Leslie // Levis was gifted a partial breakaway and he made no mistake as he out-waited Pyne and sent a shot past the sprawling netminder to make it 1-0 Giants early in the first period
2-0 Giants at 8:07 – Tyler Thorpe (20), unassisted // Thorpe got the puck beside the Pats net and sent a shot toward the net that went in off a skate to give the Giants a 2-0 lead midway through the first period.
Second Period
2-1 Pats at 13:27 – Braxton Whitehead (9), assisted by Zach Moore & Tanner Howe // The Pats won an offensive zone faceoff, and Whitehead got control of the puck from a defender and fired the puck past Mirwald to pull the Pats to within one at 2-1.
Third Period
3-1 Giants at 4:49 – Tomis Marinkovic (2), unassisted // Marinkovic picked the pocket of a Pats defender, went in alone, and beat Pyne to the glove side to give the Giants a 3-1 lead.
3-2 Pats at 10:35 – Braxton Whitehead (10), assisted by Zach Moore & Tanner Howe // Moore and Whitehead worked a two-on-one with Whitehead finishing the play to get the Pats to within one at 3-2.
4-2 Giants at 15:09 – London Hoilet (4), assisted by Tyson Zimmer & Colton Roberts (PP) // Hoilet one-timed a shot from the slot that beat Pyne to give the Giants a 4-2 lead.
THE STATISTICS
SOG: Regina – 10-12-8–30 | Vancouver – 11-4-12–27
PP: Regina – 0/2 | Vancouver 1/3
Face-offs: Regina – 33 | Vancouver – 27
THE GOALTENDING BATTLE
Regina: Kelton Pyne (23 saves / 27 shots)
Vancouver: Brett Mirwald (28 saves / 30 shots)
THE 3 STARS
First: Braxton Whitehead – Regina Pats (2G)
Second: Tomis Marinkovic – Vancouver Giants (1G)
Third: Zach Moore – Regina Pats (2A)
JUST NOTES
- Braxton Whitehead scored his ninth and 10th goals of the season and now has 13 points (3G-10A) in the 12 games since he returned from an injury.
- Tanner Howe picked up a pair of assists. He has 20 points (7G-13A) in his last 16 games.
- Zach Moore had two assists in the game and has a trio of points (1G-2A) in four games since being acquired from the Saskatoon Blades.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Pats finish their six-game homestand on Saturday, January 13 when they host the Prince Albert Raiders with a 7:00 p.m. face-off at the Brandt Centre. Grab your tickets here.
