PREVIEW: Pats Kick Off Three Game Road Trip in Calgary, Looking For 9th Straight Win
The Regina Pats (37-6-6-1) begin a three game road trip Wednesday night against the Calgary Hitmen (19-24-7-2). Puck drop is at 8 p.m. Regina time at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The Pats were last in action Saturday when they won an eighth straight game, 7-1 over the Edmonton Oil Kings. The Hitmen were last at it Saturday in Victoria, dropping a 4-1 decision to the Royals. The Pats hold a 2-0-0-0 record against the Hitmen heading into tonight’s third meeting in the season series. The game can be heard on 620 CKRM with Bennett Dunlop Ford Pats Hockey beginning at 7:35 p.m.
| Regular Season Comparison | Regina | Calgary | |
| Record | 37-6-6-1 | 19-22-7-2 | |
| Goals For/Against | 266/155 (+111) | 150/212 (-62) | |
| Powerplay | 33.2% (68/205) | 18.4% (40/217) | |
| Penalty Kill | 80.2% (203/253) | 75.6% (173/229) | |
| Team Save Percentage | 0.899 | 0.868 | |
| Leading Scorer | Sam Steel (37-55-92) | Matteo Gennaro (33-28-61) | |
| Leading Scorer (Defence) | Connor Hobbs (22-35-57) | Jake Bean (6-22-28) | |
| Scoring by Period (1st-2nd-3rd-OT) | 84-82-95-5 | 37-52-53-6 |
Lead Up: Pats Get Eighth Straight Win Saturday
The Regina Pats won their eighth consecutive game on Saturday night, 7-1 over the Edmonton Oil Kings in front of a sold out crowd at the Brandt Centre. The Pats scored twice in the first, twice in the second and three times in the third in the victory. Wyatt Sloboshan, Bryan Lockner, Nick Henry, Austin Wagner and Dawson Leedahl each had three point nights. Jordan Hollett made 17 saves on 18 shots and won his 10th game in 11 starts on the season. The Pats outshot Edmonton 35-18 in the contest, the powerplay went three for four and the penalty kill was four for five.
Head to Head
The Pats are 2-0-0-0 against Calgary in the season series so far, winning once at the Brandt Centre and once at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The Pats have scored 12 goals in the two games to the Hitmen’s seven. Regina has gone three for nine on the powerplay in the two games and the penalty kill seven for 10. The Pats have outshot the Hitmen 73-63 in the two games. Regina is led by Sam Steel, who has five goals and three assists in the season series. Nick Henry has scored twice and has three assists while Adam Brooks, Dawson Leedahl and Connor Hobbs have four points apiece. Calgary’s Jake Bean has three goals and two assists against the Pats. Matteo Gennaro has put up four points while three others have two points. The Pats enter Wednesday in first place in the WHL with 81 points through 50 games. The Hitmen are a point back of Saskatoon for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, with a game in hand on the Blades.
Wagner Rolling
Pats forward Austin Wagner is in top form over his last three games played. The Calgary product has scored three goals and has five assists over that stretch. The Los Angeles Kings prospect is up to 24 goals and 53 points through 43 games on the season. That’s just nine points back of his career high of 62 set last year in 70 games. Wagner is second in the WHL with five shorthanded goals and is fourth at plus 38.
Magic Number
The magic number for the Pats to clinch a spot in the 2017 post-season is six points. Regina is currently 34 points ahead of Calgary with 22 games left to play, the Hitmen have 20 games remaining. Any combination of three Pats wins or three Hitmen losses would punch a ticket to the playoffs. Regina enters Wednesday, 12 points ahead of the Warriors for first in the East Division, six points ahead of Medicine Hat for first in the Conference and four points ahead of Prince George for first in the WHL overall.
Upcoming Schedule
Pats @ Edmonton – Friday February 10, 8 p.m. – Rogers Place (CKRM)
Pats @ Red Deer – Saturday February 11, 8 p.m. – Enmax Centrium (CKRM)
Pats Vs Everett – Tuesday February 14, 7 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM)
