VIGR RECAP: BROOKS POTS WINNER, PATS TIE EASTERN FINAL

Keith Hershmiller Photography

REGINA – Regina captain Adam Brooks scored at 17:10 of overtime Saturday night to lift the hometown Pats to a 3-2 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes, tieing the WHL’s Eastern Conference Final at 1-1

Coming off a 3-1 home loss in Game 1 on Friday, Regina opened the scoring Saturday night, 9:44 into the first when Jeff de Wit tipped home his second of the playoffs.

It stayed that way until seven minutes into the third when Austin Wagner scored on a shorthanded breakaway, his 12th of the post-season, to make it a 2-0 game.

Two minutes later, the Hurricanes struck twice, just 23 seconds apart to tie the game 2-2 and eventually force overtime.

With 2:50 to go in the first OT, Brooks buried his fourth of the playoffs from the left circle to clinch the win.

Game over: Pats 3 Hurricanes 2

Regina outshot Lethbridge 51-31 in Game 2, while each team went 0/4 on the powerplay.

Tyler Brown made 29 saves for the Pats, Stuart Skinner 48 for the Hurricanes.

Quick Hits
– Austin Wagner extended his goal scoring streak to four games, has six goals in that stretch.
– Adam Brooks scored the game winner in his second game back from injury.
– Kjell Kjemhus recorded his first career WHL point with an assist in the first period.

What’s Next?
The Pats will visit Lethbridge in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final on Tuesday at the Enmax Centre at 7 pm on 620 CKRM, WHL on Shaw and Access 7. Game 5 will be back at the Brandt Centre on Friday April 28, tickets will go on sale Monday at noon at ticketmaster.ca, the Brandt Centre Box Office and Safeway.

(With files from Phil Andrews/ReginaPats.com)