Pats and Tigers renew rivalry in WHL on Access action
Medicine Hat Tigers (7-6-0-1) at Regina Pats (3-9-0-0)
Friday, October 26 – Brandt Centre 7:00 p.m. (Mountain)
Channels: Access7 SD, Access 70 HD, WHL Live
Two important points will be up for grabs Friday night at the Brandt Centre when the Regina Pats play host to the Medicine Hat Tigers in WHL on Access action.
Both teams could respectively use use a boost in the standings for different reasons. Even though the season is still early, less than a quarter in, teams are already jockeying for playoff positioning, a true situation for both the Tigers and Pats.
Coming off their fourth-straight home victory, the Tigers will take their act on the road, hoping to improve upon their 3-4-0-1 record away from the Canalta Centre. The good news is that two of those wins have come in the the month of October, helping them trend in the right direction. Still concerning though is the fact that the Tigers have yet to win on the road in the East Division since January 13, 2018 when they downed the Brandon Wheat Kings in overtime, an 0-2-1-1 stretch.
Right now, the Tigers are tied for second in the Central Division, two points behind the first place Red Deer Rebels. In the hunt for their third-straight division title, the Tigers won’t be backing down without contending strongly for the title again.
As part of a strong October, Ryan Jevne has come on strong with 10 points (4G-6A) in 10 games this month. Defenceman Linus Nassen (Florida Panthers) has also come on strong since being returned to the Tigers with nine points (2G-7A) in the month of October.
Those two are part of a group of offensive talents that are hoping to gain a measure of revenge against the Pats. The Pats have taken the advantage in four-straight season series between the two clubs, earning a 3-1-0-0 record last season and a 4-0-0-0 sweep in the 2015-16 season. Even when the teams each won a pair of games from the annual four-game set, the Pats always picked up at least a fifth point due to a loss in overtime or the shootout.
Without a question, those were talented Pats teams, but now the Tigers are ready to pounce.
Perhaps more good news for the Tigers, and troublesome news for the Pats, is that Regina is still searching for their first home win of the season. With the Tigers paying a visit to the Queen City Friday and the Broncos due in town on Sunday, there’s two quality chances left for the Pats to gain some success on home ice going forward into the heart of the season.
Leading the Pats into Friday’s contest will be Nick Henry (Colorado Avalanche), who has impressed with 12 points (3G-9A) during October, with points in seven of his team’s eight games. Henry had a five-game point streak snapped earlier this month, but has already put himself back on a two-game point streak.
Captain Jake Leschyshyn (Vegas Golden Knights) has also had his fair share of success, recording seven points (4G-3A) this month. His points have come in bunches however, with a pair of two-point performances and one three-point effort.
Also enjoying a sneakily impressive October has been Austin Pratt, who has equaled Leschyshyn’s performance with seven points (5G-2A) in eight games. That included a four-game point streak at the beginning of the month, and he’ll be looking to continue his strong offensive impact going forward.
Despite some of the losses this season, the Pats still have a reason to be optimistic about the present and future. In Sunday’s 5-1 loss to the Everett Silvertips, rookie defenceman Ryker Evans picked up the first point of his WHL career. The former Notre Dame AAA Hounds star and the Top Defenceman from the 2018 Telus Cup is still just a shiny 16-year-old in the league who will turn 17 in December. With space and opportunity to grow into an important piece of the Pats’ lineup, this is a good start for the Calgary, Alta. product who was selected 209th overall at the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft.
Tune in to Access TV to catch all the action live from the Brandt Centre tonight!
IT’S GAMEDAY!!
Tigers pay a visit to the Brandt Centre to do battle with the Pats!
⏰ 7PM
👂 @CHAT945
📄 https://t.co/kNMK2F9Pct#medhat #livebreatheorange #tigershockey #REGvsMH pic.twitter.com/tNTbo8aw7g— Medicine Hat Tigers (@tigershockey) October 26, 2018
Medicine Hat Tigers
Record: 7-6-0-1, 15 points – Third in Central Division
Head Coach: Shaun Clouston
Leading scorers: C James Hamblin (7-8-15), RW Tyler Preziuso (6-7-13), LW Ryan Jevne (5-8-13)
Leading Goaltender: Jordan Hollett (9 GP , 3-6-0-0, 3.61 GAA, 0.891 SV%)
Power play: 17th – 24.1%
Penalty kill: 5th – 82.5%
Injuries/Unavailable: F Baxter Anderson (upper body, 7-to-10 days), D Joel Craven (upper body, week-to-week), D Trevor Longo (upper body, day-to-day)
Check out the Regina Pats Game Day Magazine ahead of tonight's meeting with the Medicine Hat Tigers! https://t.co/8t6qbumACH#JoinTheRegiment pic.twitter.com/c5OuOQ5X7y
— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) October 26, 2018
Regina Pats
Record: 3-9-0-0, 6 points – Fifth in East Division
Head Coach: Dave Strutch
Leading scorers: RW Nick Henry (3-12-15), C Jake Leschyshyn (5-6-11) and D Aaron Hyman (3-7-10)
Leading Goaltender: Max Paddock (10 GP, 2-8-0-0, 4.07 GAA, 0.884 SV%)
Power play: 14th – 21.6%
Penalty kill: 21st – 68.2%
Injuries/Unavailable: F Logan Nijhoff (upper body, indefinite), D Brady Pouteau (upper body, week-to-week)
Season Series
Oct. 26 – Medicine Hat at Regina*
Dec. 2 – Medicine Hat at Regina
Dec. 8 – Regina at Medicine Hat
Jan. 11 – Regina at Medicine Hat
* Indicates WHL on Access broadcast
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