THE WEDNESDAY THRILLER … WITH PHIL ANDREWS

Voice of the Pats Phil Andrews

Happy Wednesday everybody!

– The Regina Pats concluded their 5 game road trip through the Central Division Tuesday night and came away with a 3-2 win. The club scored three really nice goals, Colton Kroeker started it off, then Sam Steel scored and Riley Woods completed the scoring in the 3rd. Daniel Wapple was fantastic making 37 saves for his 5th win of the year.

The Pats went 3-2-0-0 on the road trip and sit 6-5-0-0 on the year. The team has gone 5 and 2 since the opening two weekends of the year. Been a good stretch and things are coming around. The powerplay has shown glimpses of brilliance and the penalty kill has too, but the number of times short handed needs to be cut down.

– Tough loss up front for the team when Rykr Cole blocked a clearing attempt with his arm in Edmonton on Friday and will miss 4-6 weeks. He was really coming around and was working on a 2 point game against the Oil Kings last night. The team did dodge a bullet however with defenceman James Hilsendager. He blocked a shot in Calgary and left the game but the x-rays came back negative and should be available for Sunday against the Prince Albert Raiders at the Brandt Centre. Puck drop is at 4 o’clock.

– Former Regina Pats forward Chandler Stephenson is enjoying his first NHL experience this week. The now 21-year-old was called up on the weekend and has played in three straight games with the Washington Capitals. He has yet to record a point but is playing about 10 minutes a night. Jordan Weal and Brandon Davidson have also played with the NHL clubs so far this season, both appearing in one game so far.

– A tough end to the 2015 season for the Regina Thunder on Sunday afternoon. The second place club lost in a PFC semi-final at Mosaic Stadium, 17-3 to the Calgary Colts. The offense really struggled and turned the ball over 9 times in the loss. The Thunder also lost the starting quarterback Jaeden Marwick in the game and Sawyer Buettner didn’t fair any better replacing him.

Calgary did a heck of a job keeping the league’s top rushing attack under wraps. Colton Klassen was limited to just 75 yards. Not to mention they recorded 4, first half interceptions and 5 overall. Plus forced 4 more turnovers on downs. Quite the defensive performance against the best offence in the PFC all season long.

The Colts will head to Saskatoon to play the Hilltops Sunday in the PFC Championship game. The Hilltops beat the Winnipeg Rifles in the other Semi-Final on Sunday.

– The Toronto Blue Jays… My goodness, what a let down yesterday in game 4. R.A. Dickey was terrible, the bats were no better and the team is on the brink of elimination. I tell you, that trade for Dickie with the Mets looks bad right now. Would way rather have had Noah Syndergaard pitching yesterday than the knuckleballer. Need to win three straight now, just like in the divisional series. Estrada, Price and Stroman the scheduled pitchers. It’s possible but not likely but I will be cheering my ass off this afternoon.

– I did not see the New York Mets going up 3 games to none on the Chicago Cubs in the NLCS. The Cubs looked so good against the Cardinals in the DS but the Mets are for real. Their pitching is so good and Daniel Murphy is playing out of his mind. Homers in 5 straight games is just unbelievable. I was pulling for a Cubs, Jays World Series…

– Connor McDavid finally showed off what he can do on Saturday in Calgary against the Flames. The rookie scored twice and added an assist and was one of the best players on the ice. People seemed to be getting a little nervous in Edmonton after the slow start and how Jack Eichel has looked to start his rookie year but Saturday proved McDavid is going to be just fine. Better than fine. The Oil have won two in a row now after betaing Vancouver in OT on Sunday. Their defence has to continue to get better though, not their strength by a long shot.

– Sidney Crosby got his first goal and first points of the season last night for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Here I thought he would make Phil Kessel better, guess it has had the opposite effect and Crosby has dipped. At least to start the year.

– There have been some surprising slow starts in the NHL this year. I did not see the Anaheim Ducks starting 1-3-1, Calgary looks lost to begin the season and I thought Columbus was going to be way better than they have shown. It’s still really early but still surprising.

– The Seattle Seahawks are a shell of their former selves. Two straight weeks giving up big 4th quarter leads to Cincinnati and Carolina. That defense just can’t seem to get it done and now are tied for last in the NFC West and 2 and 4 with the San Francisco 49ers. Arizona is 4 and 2 and Seattle is going to struggle to make the playoffs. Need some help for sure.

– The Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals remain undefeated through the first six weeks of the year. The way things have started I would pick a Green Bay – New England Super Bowl. The Broncos defense is the ONLY reason they win games. Peyton Manning is not comfortable in the new offense in Denver, they can’t run the ball either. They say defence wins championships but against the high flying Patriots and Bengals I don’t see them getting too far in the playoffs.

– How about the Philadelphia Eagles? Finally Demarco Murray is showing his stuff and they have won 3 in a row and are now tied atop the NFC East at 3 and 3. They won a big game on Monday night over the New York Giants. The Dallas Cowboys have now lost 3 in a row and without Tony Romo and Dez Bryant they just can’t get it done. Without those injuries they run away with this division.

– Be sure to catch tonight’s episode of Pats TV on Access 7. My guests are forwards Luc Smith and Jake Elmer as well as defenceman Jared Freadrich.

Have a great week!

Phil
@PhilTheThrill18