Pats Looking For Answers
The Regina Pats couldn’t finish what they started.
After they jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the opening three minutes, the Pats watched as the host Moose Jaw Warriors scored five of the next six goals on Tuesday and skated to a 5-3 WHL victory before 2,663 spectators at the Civic Centre.
Pats head coach Curtis Hunt was pleased with his team’s effort against the Warriors, but said there was little his players could do in the battle with the officials.
“It’s really hard to compete against two teams,” Hunt said after the loss. “The Moose Jaw Warriors are a good hockey team and I thought our guys worked hard. We just couldn’t overcome the striped team tonight.”
After Trent Ouellette gave the Pats a 3-2 lead midway through the second period, they received an opportunity to add to their advantage when Warriors defenceman Dylan McIlrath took a minor penalty.
But the ensuing power play was foiled when Garrett Mitchell was whistled for goaltender interference just a minute later.
The eventual game-winning goal, a power-play marker, came in the third period while Pats defenceman Art Bidlevskii was serving a roughing minor.
“There were a couple of really terrific sell jobs that took us off the power play and the one in the third period when the game was tied,” Hunt continued.
“It’s hard because our guys competed and we’re proud of their work ethic in a tough building … we did a good job being physical. We were poised for a playoff-type game and you just expect a lot higher standard at this time of year.”
Warriors winger Dylan Hood recorded a hat trick, including two goals in the pivotal third period. Hood has 11 points in five games versus the Pats this season.
The Pats enjoyed 2-0 and 3-2 leads heading into the intermissions. But the Warriors controlled much of the action in the final frame, which saw Sam Fioretti and Hood combine for three unanswered goals on Matt Hewitt, who replaced an injured Damien Ketlo late in the second period.
Dyson Stevenson scored 48 seconds after the initial puck drop to stun the Warriors and the sold-out crowd.
Two minutes and nine seconds later, defenceman Ricard Blidstrand doubled the Pats’ lead as he recorded his third goal of the season.
“We really had some jump,” Hunt noted. “We just wanted to get pucks on net and guys did a really good job of that. We moved it around well on the perimeter and moved our feet well and were able to get a few in the back of the net.”
The 2-0 advantage stood until Hood notched a power-play goal, the first of his three tallies on the night, less than two minutes into the second period.
Midway through the middle frame Ketlo absorbed a Spencer Edwards slapshot in the forehead. The impact dropped Ketlo to the ice, where he stayed for a few minutes.
With 3: 45 remaining in the period, Ketlo was replaced in goal by Hewitt, who finished the game with 10 saves.
According to Hunt, Ketlo had his bell rung.
“He thought we was OK and he stayed in for a bit,” Hunt said. “But then he came off on his own and said he didn’t feel comfortable in net and that he was a little bit dizzy.”
Thanks to the Prince Albert Raiders’ 6-2 victory over the Swift Current Broncos on Tuesday, the Pats fell five points behind the Raiders for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Regina is still three points behind the ninth-place Lethbridge Hurricanes, who were idle on Tuesday.
Next on the slate for the Pats is a weekend home-and-home series with the Brandon Wheat Kings. Games are slated for Friday in Brandon and Saturday at the Brandt Centre.
“Brandon has a terrifc homeice advantage,” said Hunt, whose team lost 9-3 in Brandon on Saturday. “We need to keep it simple and keep the home fans asleep.
“We’re excited about the opportunity to get back there. I know our guys weren’t very proud of that effort the last time we were there.”
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