Pats Look to Force Game Seven
WHL Playoffs Round Two Game Six – Red Deer Rebels at Regina Pats
Brandt Centre, Regina, Saskatchewan (4 p.m.)
620 CKRM, Access7 (channels 7/70), WHL Live Webcast
Presenting Sponsor: Fries Tallman Lumber
Regina, Saskatchewan – The Regina Pats (6-4) and Red Deer Rebels (7-3) continue their second round series with Game Six at the Brandt Centre (4 p.m.) in Regina. The Rebels regained the series lead (3-2) Friday night in Red Deer. Haydn Fleury opened the scoring on a five-on-three powerplay early in the first. The Pats powerplay failed to capitalize on a four-minute double minor in the frame. Red Deer added to its lead in the second on a Brandon Hagel breakaway. Again, the Pats powerplay couldn’t cash in, this time on a five minute major penalty. Red Deer pulled away in the third. Josh Mahura, Evan Polei and Grayson Pawlenchuk scored to break open the game. Sean Richards tallied late to break up Rylan Toth’s shutout bid. Tyler Brown made 37 saves on 42 shots before being relieved late in the game by Jordan Hollett. Tune in to tonight’s game on 620 CKRM at 3:35 p.m.
The Pats will play in front of a sold out Brandt Centre today. It’s the team’s fourth sell-out of the season with the previous packed barns coming February 29, March 11 and March 18. The Pats Regiment has been out in full force during the playoffs propelling the Pats to the third-best attendance mark in the Western Hockey League. With today’s sell-out, the Pats averaged 6,227 in their first five playoff games.
Cole Sanford assisted on Sean Richards’ third period goal and moved his point streak to ten games. The over-age forward has at least a point in every Pats playoff game so far. In the ten games Sanford has 15 points (6G, 9A). The former Medicine Hat Tiger is tied for sixth in WHL Playoffs scoring. He recently eclipsed the 50 point plateau for his playoff career. Overall, Sanford has 53 points (23G, 30A) in 46 playoff games.
After the powerplays had their way in the first four games (both teams over 40 percent) in the first four games, the penalty kills bounced back in Game Five. The Pats saw their powerplay unable to convert on five chances which included a double-minor and major penalty. It was the first time the Pats did not score a powerplay goal in a game during the series. Regina and Red Deer were a combined 1/10 on the powerplay, marking the first time the teams were held to less than three powerplay goals in a game.
With the home team winning all five games of the series, location has been an important factor in the set. The Brandt Centre sees more scoring than the Enmax Centrium. In the two games in Regina, the clubs combined to average 9.5 goals. Meanwhile, back in Red Deer the teams averaged 6 goals per game. Oddly, the road team has scored the first goal in all but one of the games, the exception being the Rebels scoring first in Game Five.
Puck drop for the sold out game is at 4 p.m. Fans unable to get tickets can watch on Access 7 (channels 7/70) or listen on 620 CKRM with Bennett Dunlop Ford Pats Hockey getting going at 3:35 p.m.
