VIGR RECAP: PATS TIE UP WHL FINAL AT 1-1
 |
| Keith Hershmiller Photography |
REGINA – Hopefully, for Keegan Kolesar’s sake, it was worth it.
Josh Mahura scored his second goal of the night on the powerplay in overtime as the Regina Pats edged the Seattle Thunderbirds 4-3 on Saturday in Game 2 of the Western Hockey League final series.
Regina’s man advantage situation came about after Kolesar kneed Pats defenceman Connor Hobbs in the groin after the play, which was caught on video and replayed over and over before the sellout crowd of 6484 in the Brandt Centre. The Thunderbirds Assistant Captain received a 2-minute minor for kneeing in OT.
It was, I think, the most selfish, untimely thing I’ve ever seen in a lifetime of hockey.
And then it took Mahura and the Pats powerplay just 23 seconds to make Kolesar and the Thunderbirds pay for an unbelievably costly decision and now the Best-of-7 series is all knotted up at 1-1 going to Seattle for the next three games.
The Pats led 1-0 after 20 minutes in Game 2 after Sam Steel opened the scoring just 50 seconds into the contest. However three Seattle goals in less than a minute in the middle frame gave the Thunderbirds a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes and things looked grim.
But we’ve learned never to count these Pats out and they found that “next gear” in the third period that Head Coach & GM John Paddock has been looking for. Josh Mahura and Filip Ahl scored to tie the game and force overtime for a second straight game in the series.
And then at 5:22 of OT, Mahura ripped a point shot low glove side on Seattle goalie Carl Stankowski to send the Regina fans into hysterics.
Regina was outshot 30-26 in the contest while going 2/7 on the powerplay and 2/3 on the penalty kill.
Pats goalie Tyler Brown collected the win after making 27 saves.
Game 3 goes Tuesday night at 8:00 pm in Kent, WA on 620 CKRM, Access 7 and Shaw.
(With files from The Canadian Press)
