PREVIEW: Pats Look to Bounce Back in Game 2 against Lethbridge
The Regina Pats (8-4) host game two of the Eastern Conference Championship Series tonight at home to the Lethbridge Hurricanes (9-6). Puck drop at the Brandt Centre is at 7 p.m. The Pats dropped game one of the series on Friday night, 3-1 on home ice. The game can be heard on 620 CKRM with Bennett Dunlop Ford Pats Hockey beginning at 6:35 p.m. It will also be broadcast on the WHL on Shaw and Access 7.
| Playoffs Comparison | Regina | Lethbridge | |
| Record | 8-4 | 9-6 | |
| Goals For/Against | 46/24 (+22) | 57/47 (+10) | |
| Powerplay | 27.9% (12/43) | 23.8% (15/63) | |
| Penalty Kill | 79.3% (42/53) | 72.4% (42/58) | |
| Team Save Percentage | 0.933 | 0.917 | |
| Leading Scorer | Sam Steel (7-12-19) | Tyler Wong (11-11-22) | |
| Leading Scorer (Defence) | Connor Hobbs (3-13-16) | Brennan Menell (4-9-13) | |
| Scoring by Period (1st-2nd-3rd-OT) | 13-17-16-0 | 22-15-19-1 |
| Regular Season Comparison | Regina | Lethbridge | |
| Record | 52-12-7-1 | 44-21-4-3 | |
| Goals For/Against | 353/211 (+142) | 280/253 (+27) | |
| Powerplay | 31.5% (92/292) | 23.9% (76/318) | |
| Penalty Kill | 81.4% (288/354) | 78.6% (220/280) | |
| Team Save Percentage | 0.903 | 0.898 | |
| Leading Scorer | Sam Steel (50-81-131) | Tyler Wong (51-58-109) | |
| Leading Scorer (Defence) | Connor Hobbs (31-54-85) | Brennan Menell (12-59-71) | |
| Scoring by Period (1st-2nd-3rd-OT) | 106-121-119-7 | 104-86-79-9 |
Lead Up: Pats Fall in Game One
The Regina Pats dropped game one of the Eastern Conference Championship Series, 3-1 to the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Friday night. The Pats opened the scoring, 1:10 into the game when Austin Wagner scored his 11th of the playoffs on a breakaway. The Hurricanes tied it up in the second and early in the third took the lead on the powerplay. Regina looked to have a tying goal from Austin Wagner but after review it was waived off and remained 2-1. The Hurricanes added an empty netter late and took game one, 3-1 the final score. The Pats outshot the Hurricanes 37-25 in the defeat, Tyler Brown made 22 saves on 24 shots in the Regina goal, Stuart Skinner 36 for Lethbridge. The Pats powerplay was oh for two and the penalty kill went two for three.
Wagner Rolling
Pats forward Austin Wagner scored the lone goal in the team’s 3-1 loss in game one on Friday night. The signed Los Angeles Kings prospect extended his goal scoring streak to three games with his team leading 11th of the playoffs early in the first. Wagner, in his last three games, has scored five goals and has an assist. The Calgary product has 11 goals and 13 points in 12 playoff games this year. For his career, Wagner has played in 35 WHL playoff games, scoring 15 goals and 10 assists for 25 points. Three of his goals have come shorthanded and two on the powerplay.
Brooks Returns
Pats Captain Adam Brooks stepped onto the ice for the first time since early in the second round on Friday night against the Hurricanes. Brooks had not played a shift since game two of the second round against the Swift Current Broncos. The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect did not get on the scoresheet in his first game back but did set up the Austin Wagner game tying goal in the third on Friday that was eventually waived off. Brooks is coming off his best regular season in the WHL with 130 points in 66 games. Through 10 games in these playoffs, six of which he actually played in, the Winnipeg product has scored three goals and has 10 points.
Ahl Streaking
Pats forward Filip Ahl extended his point streak to three games with an assist in game one on Friday night. The 19-year-old has put up two goals and four assists in his last three, going back to the last two games of the second round against Swift Current. The Ottawa Senators prospect is up to two goals and seven assists for nine points in nine playoff games this year. That is fourth best among all rookies in the post season.
Upcoming Schedule
Game 3, Pats @ Lethbridge – Tuesday April 25, 7 p.m. – Enmax Centre (CKRM)
Game 4, Pats @ Lethbridge – Wednesday April 26, 7 p.m. – Enmax Centre (CKRM)
Game 5, Pats Vs Lethbridge – Friday April 28, 7 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM) If necessary
