Stephenson Scores Winner in Pats OT Win Over Tigers
By Colton Hordichuk – ReginaPats.com
Regina, Saskatchewan – With the ice colored pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Night at the Brandt Centre, the Regina Pats (6-5-0-0) faced off against the Medicine Hat Tigers (7-1-2-0).
Patrick D’Amico gave the Blue and White an early lead less than two minutes into the opening frame. D’Amico’s first of the season was assisted by Pats captain Kyle Burroughs and forward Connor Gay.
Midway through the first stanza, Griffin Mumby had to sit a pair for hooking. The Pats allowed only one shot on goal while down a man, and Mumby returned to the ice with the 1-0 lead still in tact.
The Tigers were on their heals as the period wound down, but Curtis Valk came back the other way and went five hole on Dawson MacAuley at 16:57. About a minute later, Chandler Stephenson responded with a pretty one-handed goal from linemate Dyson Stevenson.
After 20 minutes, the Blue and White led 2-1 on the scoreboard and 15-8 on the shot clock.
The home team had 1:30 of powerplay time to work with to start the second stanza, but Tyler Lewington successfully served his holding minor and the game returned to five-on-five hockey.
Carson Samoridny was given the gate for hooking at 4:20, and the Tigers cashed in on the man-advantage courtesy of Tommy Vannelli.
At 11:48, Jacob Doty rocked Stevenson from behind, which resulted in a toe-to-toe tilt between the two. Both players received an additional penalty on the play; Doty for boarding, Stevenson for the instigator. Also on the play, Valk was assessed a hooking minor, but the Pats’ powerplay was short-lived as Marc McCoy had to sit for hooking as well.
Valk stepped out of the box and had a wide open breakaway. MacAuley came through and made a sensational right pad save. The Pats’ active sticks allowed them to kill off what was left of McCoy’s infraction.
Both teams enjoyed some late four-on-four hockey with the Blue and White generating majority of the scoring chances.
With the game tied up 2-2, the Pats went back on the man-advantage at 12:57 of the final frame. Tigers goaltender Marek Langhamer faced five shots during the kill. By the television timeout, the Pats were outshooting the Tigers 13-5 in the frame.
Valk made a trip to the sin bin with 4:32 left in the game, but the Tigers penalty kill prevailed and the game went into overtime.
Tigers captain Hunter Shinkaruk took an offensive zone penalty at 1:01 of overtime. Former Tiger Boston Leier directed the puck on goal and Stephenson put home the loose puck to give the Blue and White a 3-2 overtime victory.
Three Stars
1. Marek Langhamer – 42 SVS
2. Dawson MacAuley – 29 SVS
3. Connor Gay – 1A
Next Game: at Moose Jaw – Saturday, October 19th – 7:00 p.m. (CKRM)
Next Home Game: vs. Prince Albert – Wednesday, October 23rd – 7:00 p.m. (CKRM)
