BRONCOS HOLD OFF PATS 7-5
SWIFT CURRENT – The Regina Pats comeback came up a goal short in Swift Current on Friday, falling 7-5 to the Broncos.
In the first, the Broncos scored 50 seconds in to take a 1-0 lead. The Pats powerplay responded at 15:27 when Zack Smith snapped home his fifth to tie the game at one. Swift Current took the lead back at 17:11 thanks to Cole Nagy and it was 2-1 after 20 minutes. In the second, the Broncos scored three times in the opening 2:35. Two coming on the powerplay and one shorthanded to open a 5-1 lead. Kyle Walker got one back for Regina, his fifth and it was 5-2. The Broncos powerplay scored again shortly after to go up 6-2 with eight minutes left in the period. Regina cut the lead to three 42 seconds later, Drew Englot tipped in his fifth on a great feed from Cole Dubinsky and it was a 6-3 game after two periods. In the third, Jan Cikhart got his first with the Pats, second of the year and then Austin Pratt scored his 13th and the Pats were within a goal at 6-5. Regina went with the extra attacker in the final minutes, but the Broncos scored into the empty net with 30 seconds left and took the game 7-5.
The Pats outshot the Broncos 49-25, the powerplay was one for four and the penalty kill one for four. Cole Dubinsky and Tyson Feist led the offence with two assist each, while Max Paddock and Dovovan Buskey combined to make 18 saves.
The Pats (11-20-3-1) will host a rematch with the Broncos on Saturday night at the Brandt Centre at 7 p.m.
(Phil Andrews/ReginaPats.com)
