Kopeck’s OT Winner Snaps Pats’ Streak

Regina, Saskatchewan – The Regina Pats (3-2-1-0) saw their three game win streak come to an end with a 4-3 overtime loss to the Red Deer Rebels (3-3-0-0).

First Period
After a tough outing the previous night, the Red Deer Rebels came out with a strong opening twenty minutes.  The visitors put plenty of pressure on the Pats and were rewarded with a pair of markers.  Brooks Maxwell got the offence started when he split the Pats’ defence before pulling the puck around Daniel Wapple for the go ahead goal.  The Pats got back even when Sergey Zborovskiy’s shot took a wild bounce off the back-boards, then off some skates and right to the stick of Sam Steel for a tap in goal.  The deadlock only lasted 31 seconds as the Blue and White headed to the penalty kill after Connor Gay inadvertently flipped the puck out of play.  Conner Bleackley spied Presten Kopeck cross-ice, hit him with a perfect pass and Kopeck made no mistake on the opportunity, restoring the Rebels’ lead.  The 2-1 score held up until the buzzer and Red Deer went to the intermission leading the shots on goal 11-3.

Second Period
The middle stanza saw the Pats jump even with the Rebels when Kyle Burroughs skated across the line and fired a shot that handcuffed Taz Burman and tied the contest 2-2.  After the goal, Burman was lifted from the game in favour of Rylan Toth.  Just minutes later, the Rebels responded as Adam Musil tipped a Nick Charif shot past Wapple to regain the Red Deer lead.  On the powerplay, Pavel Padakin took advantage of the opportunity to get his first as a Pat.  Setting the screen in front, Padakin grabbed a rebound and slung it past Toth to bring the Queen City Kids back even.  The feisty period came to a close with the teams still tied 3-3 and Red Deer leading the shot count 22-15 through two periods.

Third Period-Overtime
Both teams had their fair share of opportunities to grab a lead in the final period, but goaltenders Daniel Wapple and Rylan Toth held the line and some near misses kept the game tied through sixty minutes.  Overtime only lasted 66 seconds as a shot was tipped in front of Wapple and popped over his shoulder.  Presten Kopeck poked the puck over the line for his second of the night and a 4-3 final score.  Red Deer led the final shots on goal 31-19.

The Pats are in action Wednesday night against the Kootenay Ice in a 7 p.m. puck drop.  Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.ca, the Brandt Centre Box Office and Safeway locations around Regina.