PATS GAME DAY: VS BLADES

Saskatoon (14-34-4) at Regina (25-21-5)
7 pm, Brandt Centre Regina
620 CKRM
Access 7

Head-to-Head
The Regina Pats (25-21-3-2) take on the Saskatoon Blades (14-34-1-3) in their sixth meeting of the season.  The Pats hold a perfect 5-0-0-0 record against the Blades though both Pat wins in Regina have come in the shootout.  Chandler Stephenson leads the Pats against his hometown team with nine points (2G, 7A) in five games versus Saskatoon.  Dryden Hunt is Regina’s leading goal-getter with five against the Blades.  Nikita Scherbak continues to set the pace for the Blades in their matchups against the Pats eight points (2G, 6A) in five games.  Coming into tonight’s contest, the Pats find themselves alternating wins and losses after last weekend saw the Blue and White dominate Prince George 8-0 and fall to Red Deer 4-0.  The Blades come in 3-7-0-0 in their last ten games including a high-scoring 10-6 loss to the Cougars on Wednesday.  This evening’s game is broadcast on 620 CKRM starting at 6:35 p.m. CST and Access7 starting at 7:00 p.m.

SaskTel Blanket Night
With a minimum donation of five dollars toward SaskTel’s TelCare employee fund, fans in attendance will receive a Little Red Blanket courtesy of game sponsor SaskTel.  Limited quantities while supplies last.

Lead Up:
The Pats sent 41 shots at Rebels goaltender Patrik Bartosak, but the reigning CHL Goalie of the Year turned them all away to set his team up for a 4-0 win at the Brandt Centre Saturday.  Scott Feser scored the only goal Bartosak needed on a misplay in front of the Pats net in the First Period.  The insurance came in a brief span late in the second period when the Pats lost control of the game and allowed three quick goals (Feser, Aspen Sterzer and Presten Kopeck) to cut down any comeback hopes.

Getting Some Time at Home
The Pats have played less home games (and by association more road games) than any team in the WHL.  With 22 games played at home and 29 on the road, the gap is closing after playing 23 of 36 on the road in the first half.  Two games into their seven game home-stand which will see the Pats nearly balance out, the Blue and White are 1-1-0-0.

Keep it Close
The Pats have excelled this season in tight games.  When the score has remained within one goal, the Pats are an impressive 11-2-3-2.  Much of that stems from their 9-3-2 record when games go past regulation.  When the score pushes to a two goal difference, the Pats are 5-4-0-0.  Once it moves to three, 2-5-0-0 and four goals or more, 9-15-0-0.

Checking the Leaderboard
Chandler Stephenson continues to hold sway over the Pats’ scoring race.  The Saskatoon native has 60 points (21G, 39A) on the season and sits tied for 12th in league scoring.  Boston Leier is right on his heels with 59 points (29G, 30A).  Leier’s 29 goals has him tied for 11th in the WHL.

Who to Watch on Saskatoon
Nikita Scherbak is the gear that turns the Blades’ offence.  The skilled Russian forward is on a five game point streak to bring his total to an extremely impressive 64 points (25G, 39A).  Those numbers have Scherbak up to 21st Overall on TSN’s 2014 Draft Rankings and 24th among North American skaters in the CSS rankings.

Upcoming Schedule
vs. Moose Jaw – Saturday, February 1st, 7:00 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM)
vs. Medicine Hat – Tuesday, February 4th, 7:00 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM)
vs. Saskatoon – Saturday, February 8th, 7:00 p.m. – PPCLI 100th Anniversary Celebration – Brandt Centre (CKRM)

(Courtesy Daniel Fink)