Pats Heading Home for Must-Win

Red Deer, Alberta – Tied 2-2 after four games, the Regina Pats (6-4) and Red Deer Rebels (7-3) returned to the Enmax Centrium for Game Five of their second round series.  The Rebels took a 5-1 victory to send the series back to Regina at a 3-2 count in Red Deer’s favour.

Scoring Summary

First Period
Red Deer – Haydn Fleury (1) from Spacek and Philp – 3:02 (PP)

Second Period
Red Deer – Brandon Hagel (1) – Unassisted – 12:26

Third Period
Red Deer – Josh Mahura (2) from Hagel and Helewka – 3:51
Red Deer – Evan Polei (5) from Purtill – 4:42
Red Deer – Grayson Pawlenchuk (2) from Doetzel and Philp – 12:38
Regina – Sean Richards (1) from Zborovskiy and Sanford – 14:53

Shots on Goal
Regina – 9-10-10-(29)   Red Deer – 17-12-17-(46)

Powerplay
Regina – 0/5   Red Deer – 1/5

Game Story
Game Five didn’t get off to an ideal start for the Pats.  Just minutes into the game, Cole Sanford and Austin Wagner sat in the box for a Rebels two-man advantage.  After Tyler Brown made a brilliant stop, the puck cycled to Haydn Fleury who ripped a slap shot to the back of the goal.  The red-hot Pats powerplay had six minutes to work in the frame, but couldn’t capitalize on any of its chances.  Brown was the difference for the Pats, making 16 saves in the first to get the Pats to the break trailing by just one.

A tight checking second period didn’t see its first goal until past the midway point of the frame.  Rebels forward Brandon Hagel stole the puck and broke in alone.  The rookie snuck a shot past Brown to make it a two goal Red Deer advantage.  The Pats were granted a glorious chance to get back in the game when Adam Musil was assessed a five-minute major for goaltender interference.  Regina wasn’t able to capitalize on the chance as the Rebels held the line against the Pats’ powerplay.  Red Deer carried the 2-0 lead into the third period.

The Rebels put the game away early in the third.  Josh Mahura made it a three goal game when his point shot found its way to the back of the goal. Under a minute later, Evan Polei busted toward the net and was poke checked by Brown, only to have the puck redirect into the goal off Polei’s body.  Grayson Pawlenchuk put the removed doubt when he tucked in a rebound 12:38 into the period.  Sean Richards broke up the shutout bid when he slipped through the Red Deer defence and scored on the backhand to put the score to 5-1.  That’s how it would stay as the Pats head back home trailing the series, 3-2, to the Rebels.

Quick Hits
– Sean Richards scored his first career WHL Playoffs goal.
– Tyler Brown made 37 saves on 42 shots before Jordan Hollett came into the game late for his first playoff appearance.
– Game attendance was 6,182.

What’s Next?
The teams turn right around and head right back to Regina for Game Six on Sunday, April 17.  Tickets for the 4 p.m. puck drop are available at reginapats.com and the Brandt Centre.