HURRICANES 6 PATS 3 – REGINA DOWN 1-0
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| Courtesy LethbridgeHurricanes.com |
The Regina Pats reverted to some old bad habits and found themselves on the wrong end of a 6-3 score in Game 1 of their WHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Friday at Lethbridge.
The Pats afforded the Hurricanes 12 powerplays – four of which Lethbridge scored upon – and the game-winning goal came just 0:41 into the third period when Brayden Burke was left all alone at the side of the Pats’ net behind four Regina defenders.
Lethbridge looked like the team with a wealth of playoff experience and not Regina, who had a decided edge in that area going into the series.
Game 2 is Saturday night in Lethbridge at 7:00 pm on 620 CKRM.
Here’s the postgame recap of Game 1 from Daniel Fink of the Regina Pats:
Lethbridge, Alberta – The Regina Pats (0-1) and Lethbridge Hurricanes (1-0) opened their first round WHL Playoffs series in Lethbridge. Penalties cost the Pats with the Hurricanes scoring four powerplay goals to down the Pats 6-3.
Game Story
The Pats didn’t get the start they were looking for, heading to the penalty kill in the first minute of the game. The deadly Hurricanes powerplay struck when Cory Millette snagged the puck out of a crowd and lifted a backhander to the top corner just 1:54 into the game. With the Hurricanes back on the powerplay, Tyler Wong spied Brayden Burke out front and the league’s 3rd leading scorer made no mistake, putting the puck to the back of the net. Special teams continued to be a key factor with the Pats striking on a two-man advantage. Adam Brooks lanced a shot by Stuart Skinner, but hit the post. The rebound hit the Lethbridge netminder in the back and redirected into goal. The three powerplay markers left the game at a 2-1 Hurricanes lead after twenty.
Into the middle frame the Pats fought back into the contest. Austin Wagner raced down the ice on a two-on-one and buried a wrister to tie the game 2-2 at the 4:27 mark. The visitors silenced the home crowd just ahead of the midway point when Connor Hobbs ripped a shot to the back of the net on the powerplay to give the Pats their first lead of the game. That silence didn’t last as Arvin Atwal spied Carter Folk hanging out alone in front of the Pats net. The Regina native dangled his way around Tyler Brown to tie the game 3-3 before the end of the period.
Lethbridge struck with another early marker when Giorgio Estephan stole the puck and fed Brayden Burke off to the side of the net for the one-timer. Penalties bit the Pats again when Cory Millette snagged the puck off the wall, skated to the slot and tucked a shot just inside the post. The Pats parade to the box continued and with Lethbridge up five-on-three, Kord Pankewicz toe-dragged around a defender and blistered a shot to the back of the net. The Pats couldn’t cut back into the lead and dropped Game One by a 6-3 score.
Quick Hits
– Adam Brooks registered his first three point playoff game (1G, 2A).
– Sam Steel tallied his first career playoff point.
– Game attendance was 4,635.
What’s Next?
The teams reset and play Game Two tomorrow night at the Enmax Centre. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m. Tune in on 620 CKRM with Bennett Dunlop Ford Pats Hockey getting going at 6:35 p.m.
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THE REST
PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – Noah Gregor scored twice, including the winner, as the Moose Jaw Warriors topped the Prince Albert Raiders 3-2 on Friday night in Game 1 of their first round Western Hockey League series.
Brayden Point had a power-play goal and assisted on both of Gregor’s goals for the Warriors, who took a 1-0 series advantage.
Reid Gardiner opened the scoring on the power play with Austin Glover adding the other in the third for Prince Albert. Simon Stransky assists on both goals.
Zach Sawchenko made 32 saves for the win in net as Rylan Parenteau kicked out 36-of-39 shots in defeat.
Moose Jaw converted on its only opportunity with the man advantage while the Raiders were 1 for 2.
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OIL KINGS 2 WHEAT KINGS 1
BRANDON, Man. – Brett Pollock scored the winner just before the midway point of the third period as Edmonton edged the Wheat Kings in Game 2 of its first round series and take a 2-0 series lead.
Brandon Baddock tied the game at 1-1 with a first-period goal for the Oil Kings.
John Quenneville opened the scoring with a short-handed goal midway through the first for Brandon.
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REBELS 3 HITMEN 1
RED DEER, Alta. – Adam Helewka had a pair of goals as the Rebels beat Calgary in Game 1 of their quarter-final series.
Jeff de Wit opened the scoring in the first for Red Deer, which took a 1-0 series edge.
Keegan Kanzig tied the game at 1-1 with a goal in the third for the Hitmen.
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ROCKETS 3 BLAZERS 2
KELOWNA, B.C. – Lucas Johansen scored twice as the Rockets edged Kamloops to take a 1-0 lead in their playoff series.
Dillon Dube also chipped in for Kelowna.
Gage Quinney and Collin Shirley responded for the Blazers.
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ROYALS 5 CHIEFS 3
VICTORIA – Tyler Soy struck twice and Vladimir Bobylev tacked on three assists as the Royals took a 1-0 series lead with a win over Spokane.
Dante Hannoun, Logan Fisher and Joe Hicketts also found the back of the net for Victoria. Hicketts added a pair of helpers.
Keanu Yamamoto, Hayden Ostir and Hudson Elynuik scored for the Chiefs.
Ryan Gagnon of the Royals was given a major penalty and game misconduct for charging in the second period.
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THUNDERBIRDS 3 COUGARS 2 (OT)
KENT, Wash. – Andreas Schumacher scored the winner at 11:50 of overtime as the Thunderbirds slipped past Prince George to take a 1-0 series lead in their WHL quarter-final matchup.
Alexander True had a goal and two assists with Donovan Neuls adding the other in regulation for Seattle.
Jansen Harkins forced extra time with a power-play goal at 19:31 of the third period for the Cougars. Jesse Gabrielle opened the scoring with a goal on the man advantage in the second.
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SILVERTIPS 3 WINTERHAWKS 0
EVERETT, Wash. – Dawson Leedahl scored twice and Mario Petit stopped all 29 shots he faced as the Silvertips shut out Portland to take a 1-0 lead in their first round playoff matchup.
Brandon Ralph had the other for Everett, which got a pair of helpers from Carson Stadnyk and Kevin Davis.
Adin Hill turned away 48-of-51 shots in net for the Winterhawks.
Lethbridge in 5.. Yab a Dab A Doooooooo.
Bring the brooms for game four!
Why does your wife need a ride home. 🙂
It's only game 1. If they keep up the penalties, they will be done in four. Paddock will straighten them out and they'll be fine.
At game 73 he's going to "straighten" them out on penalties. He;s about 50 games too late for that. Team's too small and lacks courage and leadership. This is over in four or at best five.
How about those Brandon Wheat Queens lol
Pats had the edge 5 on 5. Lost focus and took some bad penalties. #2 & 6 have to engage and step up. Williams isn't close to 100% and needs to see limited use. Much better team game with him and Hobb's split. Team was rolling nice until last 3 games of season and the apple cart was upset. They need to keep everyone involved instead of 10 guys. Never win with half a bench.
The penalties were bad enough but the defence was God Awful..! It's been that way all season and was never fixed. It needed to be fixed. You reap what you sow. Every time you look at a goal going in against, #2 and #6 are usually pretty close by. They're killing the Pats. Brown was pretty ordinary as well.
Wow all of the experts, who no crap.God I hope none of you have any playoff tickets for the two home games as being annalists your complete idiots! Its simple a young teams emotions played a big roll in getting there butts kicked.Plain and simple. Coming back from being down by two goals and taking the lead shows that things are fine, when the hurricanes were playing even strength we outplayed them so it is what it is. None of you watched the game or did your spouses tell you what happened. Where were your comments when the team had… Read more »
Oh I soooo hope Edmonton can win 2 out of next 3 at Rexall and knock the mighty Wheaties out in round 1
If the Pats can somehow win Saturday night, they have a shot in the series. But coming down 0-2 doesn't seem feasible.
Lol! Brandon Wheat PUFFS down 0-2 to the Oil Kings. LOL! LOL!
As they say your not in trouble until you lose a home game in a 7 game series but having that said staying out of the penalty box would go a long way in helping them win any games they play. Hopefully they have it out of their system as the playoffs are a different animal. Turning point quite possibly was the two on none and the Canes goalie made a big save to keep the lead. Pats tie the game maybe things go different from that point. And on two of the goals, where was the Defence? Leaving someone… Read more »
PA must be in trouble then they lost a home game??
YA pats tie it up !!! 1 game a piece heading home
Pats in 5. Zoblocki series ot winner.