Pats Need Shootout to Top Chiefs

First Period
The Pats penalty kill was called upon early in the game to go up against the second ranked powerplay in the league.  The Chiefs went to the man-advantage on a holding call to Boston Leier followed by a Dryden Hunt hook, but the Pats PK stood tall and held the Chiefs off the board.  The Blue and White would turn the momentum late in the first period, but would not sneak one by Spokane goalie Garret Hughson who made seven stops in the frame.  At the other end of the ice, Dawson MacAuley posted a clean period with nine saves.

Second Period
Regina came out looking to continue their run of momentum from the end of the first period and did exactly that.  They piled up shots in the early part of the frame and would net the first goal of the game.  Chase Harrison moved the puck to Dmitry Sinitsyn whose shot went off a couple bodies to the stick of Dryden Hunt who made no mistake in close.  With the 1-0 lead, the Pats had a pair of powerplay opportunities trying to add a goal, but couldn’t make anything happen with the man advantage aside from another chance by Hunt who was robbed by Hughson.  The Chiefs would pick up their goaltender with a powerplay of their own.  Adam Helewka moved in off the point and snapped the puck through Dawson MacAuley to even the game 1-1.  With 4:43 remaining in the period, Braden Christoffer was handed a major when he ran into Hughson on a drive to the net.  The Pats held on with a great penalty kill until the end of the frame and Spokane carried 17 seconds of powerplay time to the third period.

Third Period
The Pats finished off killing the major penalty, but another disadvantage would give the Chiefs their first lead of the game.  Reid Gow ripped a point shot heading just wide of the Pats’ goal, but Mike Aviani tipped the puck back towards the Pats net and past Dawson MacAuley.  Just over two minutes later, though, the Pats would get even as Morgan Klimchuk sent Dyson Stevenson in on goal and the over-ager slipped the puck by Hughson to square things at 2-2.  The Pats got help between the pipes as MacAuley put on a show late in the contest holding the tie.  Sixty minutes wouldn’t solve anything to send the game to overtime.

Overtime/Shootout
The Pats dominated the overtime frame with four shots on goal and a powerplay in the final minute, but Garret Hughson held the line and forced the shootout.  With both goalies red hot, it would be tough going for the shooters in the shootout.  Only one scored, Boston Leier deked by Hughson while MacAuley was unbeatable en route to a first star selection and a 3-2 Pats win.  Regina finished the six game road trip with a 4-2-0-0 record.

Next Game: at Red Deer – Friday, November 22^nd – 8:00 p.m. CST (CKRM)

Next Home Game: vs. Prince Albert – Friday, November 29^th – 7:00 p.m. (CKRM/Access7)