Slow Starts Continue to Trouble Pats

Regina, Saskatchewan – The Regina Pats (15-15-2-2) welcomed the Saskatoon Blades (12-17-3-0) to the Brandt Centre for the first time this season.  The Pats spotted Saskatoon a 5-0 lead before a comeback fell short in a 6-4 loss.

Scoring Summary

First Period
Saskatoon – Nick Zajac (8) from Sayers and Gay – 9:44 (PP)
Saskatoon – Josh Paterson (5) from Kustra and McCarty – 10:45

Second Period
Saskatoon – Nikita Soshnin (5) from Graham – 1:14

Third Period
Saskatoon – Nikita Soshnin (6) from Graham – 1:03
Saskatoon – Terrell Draude (7) from Sloboshan and Reid – 4:10 (PP)
Regina – Adam Brooks (17) from Cooper and Wagner – 5:23
Regina – Colton Kroeker (7) from Macklin – 7:03
Regina – Austin Wagner (11) from Harrison and Hobbs – 10:08
Regina – Taylor Cooper (5) from Hobbs and Steel – 16:57 (PP)
Saskatoon – Mason McCarty (7) – Unnassisted – 19:50 (EN)

Shots on Goal
Regina – 13-9-12-(34)   Saskatoon – 13-14-11-(38)

Powerplay
Regina – 1/6   Saskatoon – 2/4

Game Story
The Pats found themselves fighting from behind again as Saskatoon jumped out to a two goal lead in the first period.  Nick Zajac got the scoring going with a powerplay goal at the 9:44 mark.  A Bryton Sayers point shot hit a skate in front and redirected straight to Zajac who slid the puck by a sprawling Tyler Brown.  Just over a minute later, Josh Paterson grabbed a loose puck in front, walked to the open side of the net and lifted the Blades second goal over Brown.  The Pats goaltender kept the score from getting any worse when he stoned Mason McCarty on a shorthanded breakaway.  Rykr Cole had a great opportunity with the seconds ticking down, but he flicked the puck just over the net as the Blades carried a 2-0 lead to the intermission.

The Blades kept up their pace early in the second when Nikita Soshnin deked his way to Saskatoon’s third goal of the contest.  The Pats had three powerplay opportunities in the frame, though one was cut short, but couldn’t find a way to break onto the score sheet.  Brock Hamm made nine stops in the period to keep the Pats off the board.  The visitors carried their 3-0 lead into the final twenty.

The third period opened the same way as the second with Soshnin adding his second marker.  The Saskatoon forward pounced on a Graham rebound to put the Blades up 4-0 1:03 into the period.  Three minutes later, Terrell Draude powered his way in front of the Pats goal and jammed in a powerplay marker putting the visitors ahead 5-0.  1:13 after that, the Pats started their way back.  Adam Brooks got the hosts on the board with a bullet of a one-timer.  Colton Kroeker followed up at the 7:03 mark, snapping a wrister to the top corner of the Blades goal off the rush.  Austin Wagner put the game within reach when he accepted a stretch pass from Chase Harrison and slung a shot over the shoulder of Brock Hamm.  With the game 5-3 and the Pats headed to the powerplay, John Paddock brought Brown to the bench for the extra attacker.  The gamble paid off as Taylor Cooper tapped in a Connor Hobbs rebound to make it a one goal with three minutes left.  The Pats went with an empty net in the final minute, but couldn’t manufacture the miracle.  Mason McCarty scored the empty netter as the Blades got out with the 6-4 win.

Quick Hits
– Liam Schioler and Dawson Barteaux made their WHL debuts.
– Sam Steel played his 100th career WHL game.
– Game attendance was 3,578.

What’s Next?
The Pats close out their pre-Christmas schedule tomorrow night when they host the Moose Jaw Warriors at 7 p.m.  It’s Christmas Sweater Night so come down to the Brandt Centre wearing your ugliest Christmas Sweaters.  Tickets are available at reginapats.com/Christmas.