Three-in-Three Ends in Saskatoon
Regina, Saskatchewan – The Regina Pats (15-13-2-1) face-off against the Saskatoon Blades (10-16-3-0) at SaskTel Centre (4:05 p.m.) today. It’s just the second meeting of the season between the two teams. The Pats captured two points in their first matchup, cruising to a 5-0 road victory. Tyler Brown made 32 saves for his first career shutout while Adam Brooks led the Pats offensively with three points (2G, 1A). The Pats enter today’s action on a winning note after a 6-5 victory over Lethbridge. Tonight’s game can be heard on 620 CKRM beginning at 3:40 p.m.
“It will be very important to play smart tomorrow. We always talk about playing fast, hard and smart,” John Paddock told 620 CKRM following last night’s game.” “If you don’t advance the puck and don’t get it in when the call is to get it in. It’s different if it’s a three on two or it’s different if it’s Adam Brooks or Sam Steel, maybe they have latitude to try things because they get it back for you. If our fourth line players want to make a play at the blue-line and turn it over then we’re probably going to lose the game. So it’s all about just doing the right things.”
It was everything Pats through the first half of last night’s matchup with the Hurricanes. Connor Hobbs, Colby Williams, Adam Berg, Rykr Cole, Lane Zablocki and Sam Steel had the Blue and White ahead of the Hurricanes by a 6-1 score. The Hurricanes weren’t about to go quietly as they started to claw back in the second with goals from Ryley Lindgren and Giorgio Estephan. The third period saw Justin Gutierrez and Brayden Burke get the visitors within one, but the Pats held off the comeback and took the 6-5 victory.
Connor Hobbs scored for the third game in a row last night. The Washington Capitals fifth round pick is riding a nine game point streak with 10 points (6G, 4A) over that stretch. The streak is tied for the longest active streak. Hobbs is tied second in the WHL (and the Pats) with ten goals and has cracked the top 20 in defenceman scoring. The Saskatoon product is looking forward to another game in his hometown.
“We have to go in (to Saskatoon) focused. I love playing there, hometown and great place to play I think. I couldn’t be more excited and hopefully the other boys follow suit. Just get excited and get pumped up, amped up for the game and that’s where we’ll have success.”
Adam Berg put together a career night against the Lethbridge Hurricanes. The 18-year old scored and added two helpers for a career high three point night. That mark matched his 12 game total from the 2014-15 season. After a slow start to the 2015-16 campaign, not registering a point in his first 8 games, Berg has 13 points (6G, 7A) over his last 22 games. The Calgary, AB native is seventh on the Pats in scoring and second among Regina rookies.
Rolling right along under the shadow of Hobbs’ nine game streak is Sam Steel with his six game run. The ‘A’ rated prospect for the 2016 NHL Entry Draft has eight points (2G, 6A) over his last six games. When looking beyond the streak, the numbers grow more impressive. Steel has only been held off the scoresheet in consecutive games twice this season. Over his last 15 games, Steel has 17 points (4G, 13A), tied for 27th in league scoring.
Today’s early puck drop goes at 4:05 p.m. Follow the Pats on the road with Bennett Dunlop Ford Pats Hockey on 620 CKRM starting at 3:40 p.m.
