THE NEST PATS RECAP: TRI-CITY 6 REGINA 5

REGINA – For the first time this year, the Regina Pats are on a losing streak. Before 5,313 fans Friday in the Brandt Centre, the Blueshirts blew a 5-1 lead and wound up losing 6-5 to the Tri-City Americans.

This comes on the heels of a 4-1 loss to Moose Jaw on Saturday, which was just Regina’s first home regulation time loss of the 2016-17 WHL season.

Oh, and the club’s consecutive game sellout streak ended at six.  All in all, it was a crappy end to a crappy day in the Queen City.

However things started out remarkably well for the Pats Friday night.  They jumped out to a 4-0 lead before the game was barely 10 minutes old, on goals by Connor Hobbs, Jake Leschyshyn, Bryan Lockner and Dawson Leedahl.  The first pair chased started Ams goalie Evan Sarthou from the net.

The visitors got on the board at 11:16 of the first courtesy of Michael Rasmussen, but Regina’s Filip Ahl restored the four-goal lead at 17:12 and Regina led 5-2 after 20 minutes.

However that’s where the Pats’ offense dried up.

The Americans put two more past Regina goalie Tyler Brown in the middle frame and he was lifted after 40 minutes with his team carrying a 5-4 lead.

Tri-City’s Tyler Sandhu and Maxwell James beat Pats goalie Curtis Chapman twice in the third period as they skated off with a 6-5 triumph.

Brown stopped 13 of 17 shots while Chapman turned aside 10 of 12.  On the night, the Pats outshot their opponents 36-29.

Regina was 1/3 on the powerplay and 4/7 killing penalties.

The Pats (27-56-1) will try to get back in the win column Saturday evening when they host the Prince Albert Raiders at 7:00 in the Brandt Centre on 620 CKRM.

RP
@rodpedersen