RECAP: Pats Fall 5-1 to Oil Kings in Alberta Road Opener
Edmonton, Alta. — The Regina Pats opened their two-game Alberta road trip with a 5-1 loss to the Edmonton Oil Kings on Friday night at Rogers Place.
The loss dropped the Pats to 1-2-0-1 on the season, while Edmonton improved to 2-2-1-0.
Kayden Stroeder led the way for the Oil Kings with a hat trick, while Parker Snell made 29 saves to earn his first win of the season. Drake Mooney made his first WHL start for Regina, stopping 23 of 28 shots.
The Oil Kings opened the scoring late in the first period when Jonas Vanicek set up Josh Lee on a two-on-one, with Lee beating Mooney to make it 1-0 with 1:06 remaining in the frame.
Edmonton added three goals in the second period to make it 4-0. Stroeder doubled the lead at 6:44, capitalizing on a Regina turnover and burying his own rebound. Luke Melnik then made it 3-0 on the power play before Stroeder scored his second of the night at 12:49, stepping in from the left boards and ripping a shot under the crossbar.
The Pats answered on the power play at 14:47. Liam Pue’s point shot was stopped by Snell, but Keets Fawcett buried the rebound for his third goal of the season, with Maddox Schultz and Pue picking up the assists.
Stroeder completed his hat trick at 9:22 of the third period, batting a rebound out of mid-air and into the net to restore Edmonton’s four-goal advantage.
The Pats were unable to find the back of the net again as the Oil Kings closed out the 5-1 victory.
Regina finished 1-for-4 on the power play, while Edmonton went 3-for-5 with the man advantage. The Pats outshot the Oil Kings 30-28.
SCORING SUMMARY
First Period
Oil Kings 1-0 — #27 Josh Lee (1), assisted by #29 Jonas Vanicek at 18:54 (4v4) // Vanicek carried the puck over the line on a two-on-one, outwaited Drake Mooney and slipped a pass across to a wide-open Josh Lee, who made no mistake, opening the scoring with 1:06 remaining in the first period.
Second Period
Oil Kings 2-0 — #10 Kayden Stroeder (2), unassisted at 6:44 // Stroeder capitalized on a Pats turnover and broke in alone on a breakaway. His initial shot was stopped low, but he followed up on his own rebound and buried it to make it 2-0.
Oil Kings 3-0 — #41 Luke Melnik (1), assisted by #22 KJ Sauer & #24 Olli Wahlroos at 8:19 (PP) // Melnik chipped the puck over to Sauer just inside the blue line, then drove to the net and took a return pass from Sauer, finishing off the give-and-go with a power-play goal.
Oil Kings 4-0 — #10 Kayden Stroeder (3), assisted by #22 KJ Sauer at 12:49 (PP) // Stroeder scored his second of the game when he stepped in from the left boards and ripped a shot just under the crossbar on the short side past Drake Mooney to make it 4-0.
Pats 4-1 — #10 Keets Fawcett (3), assisted by #13 Liam Pue & #19 Maddox Schultz at 14:47 (PP) // Schultz fed Pue for a one-timer from the point, and after his shot was stopped, Fawcett buried the rebound to get Regina on the board.
Third Period
Oil Kings 5-1 — #10 Kayden Stroeder (4), assisted by #4 Dylan Ronald & #11 Jensen Marsh at 9:22 (PP) // Ronald’s shot was stopped by Mooney, but Stroeder batted the rebound out of mid-air and into the net to complete the hat trick.
Shots on Goal
- Pats: 9 – 13 – 8 — 30
- Oil Kings: 10 – 11 – 7 — 28
Power Plays
- Pats: 1/4
- Oil Kings: 3/5
Goaltending
- Pats: Drake Mooney — 23 saves on 28 shots
- Oil Kings: Parker Snell — 29 saves on 30 shots
COMING UP
The Pats continue their two-game Alberta road trip on Sunday, October 4, when they visit the Calgary Hitmen at the Saddledome for a 2 p.m. matchup. Regina then returns home on Friday, October 9, to host the Prince Albert Raiders at the Brandt Centre.
