PATS CROWN ROYALS 5-4 IN SHOOTOUT

REGINA – The Regina Pats improved to 6-2-0-2 in their last 10 home games thanks to a 5-4 shootout victory over the Victoria Royals on Friday night at the Brandt Centre.

In the first, Brandon Cutler and Gary Haden scored for Victoria in the first 14 minutes to give the Royals a 2-0 lead. Regina got one back with 1:19 left in the frame when Austin Pratt pulled the puck backhand and scored his 15th to make it 2-1. In the second, the Pats tied the game in the early going when Cole Carrier knocked in a rebound for his first career goal in the WHL. Regina outshot Victoria 16-8 in the frame and it was 2-2 going to the third. The Pats took the lead just over two minutes into the third when Austin Pratt put a perfect feed in front for Carson Denomie who scored his 17th. The Royals responded with two goals, 1:21 apart to take the lead 4-3. Regina got the tying goal with just over seven minutes left when Logan Nijhoff potted his 10th to make it 4-4 and that forced overtime and then a shootout. Cole Dubinsky scored the lone goal and the Pats took the extra point in a 5-4 final score.

The Pats outshot the Royals 36-29, the powerplay was oh for three and the penalty kill three for four. Carson Denomie led the offence with a goal and two assists, while Donovan Buskey made 25 saves and didn’t allow a goal in the shootout.

The Pats (15-26-3-2) return to action on Wednesday when they visit the Saskatoon Blades at 7 p.m. on 620 CKRM and Access 7.

(Phil Andrews/ReginaPats.com)