Pats Edged By Broncos In Shootout
By Colton Hordichuk – ReginaPats.com
Regina, Saskatchewan – Saturday evening, the Regina Pats (30-22-3-3) faced off against the Swift Current Broncos (29-22-2-6) for the first time since Oct. 4, 2013.
With first place in the East division up for grabs, the two teams battled hard defensively and offensively in the first period. By the midway point of the opening frame, the Blue and White put up three shots to the Broncos’ two. Pats defenseman Chase Harrison made a huge defensive play when he broke up a two-on-one between the Broncos’ Colby Cave and Cavin Leth at about the 13 minute mark.
Following the television timeout, Broncos forward Jay Merkley sat a pair for elbowing. The Blue and White put up five shots on the power play, but failed to capitalize with the extra man. Regina-born Graham Black opened the scoring with 25 seconds left in the period to put the Broncos ahead 1-0 at the end of the first stanza.
It took the Blue and White just under five minutes into the second period to tie up the game all thanks to Connor Gay’s 13th of the season. Harrison and Isaac Schacher assisted Gay’s goal. At 8:37, the Broncos’ Brycen Martin was called for checking to the head. The Pats were unable to make good on their second power play opportunity of the game. Despite going oh-for-two on the man-advantage, though, Patrick D’Amico gave the home team the lead. Kyle Burroughs was credited with the lone assist. Once again, the Broncos scored a late goal courtesy of Cave. At the second intermission, the game was tied, 2-2. The Blue and White led on the shot clock, 34-17.
After entering the sin bin early in the second, Pats defenseman Dmitry Sinitsyn left 13 seconds later when Cave cashed in his second of the game. Following Cave’s goal, the Blue and White received a pair of back-to-back man-advantages. They didn’t score on the first one, but Dyson Stevenson knotted the game up on the second at 5:42. Ultimately, neither were able to score the go-ahead goal throughout the rest of regulation. Thus, overtime was needed.
In overtime, the shots were 4-1 in favour of the Broncos, but no goals were scored.
The Broncos’ Glenn Gawdin was the only scorer in the shootout as the visitors edged the Pats, 4-3.
Three Stars
1. Colby Cave – 2G
2. Patrick D’Amico – 1G
3. Eetu Laurikainen – 45 SVS
Next game: vs. Brandon – Monday, February 17th, 2:00 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM)
Next home game: vs. Brandon – Monday, February 17th, 2:00 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM)
