VIGR.CA RECAP: TIGERS 6 PATS 4

In a game featuring two Top 10 nationally-ranked teams (Regina #2, Medicine Hat #7), the Pats led 1-0 after one and had a 3-0 lead in the second on goals by Austin Wagner, Nick Henry and Josh Mahura.

Tigers coach Shaun Clouston called a timeout midway through the middle frame and his team responded from there, scoring back-to-back goals from Jordan Henderson and Mark Rassell to cut Regina’s lead to 3-2.

Pats star Sam Steel scored his 45th of the season on a shorthanded breakaway with 1:14 to go in the second, making it 4-2 Regina after 40.

Then the Tigers took over, outshooting the Pats 13-7 in the third and notching four answered goals from Clayton Kirichenko, Chad Butcher, Steven Owre and Zach Fischer (EN) to stun the crowd, and the Pats.

For Medicine Hat, it was their fourth consecutive victory and they closed to within three points of Regina for the conference lead. For the Pats, it was their third consecutive loss. They have two games in hand over the Tigers with nine games remaining.

Tyler Brown suffered the lost in the Pats goal, making 33 saves. Tiger netminder Michael Bullion notched the win with 33 stops of his own.

The Tigers outshot the Pats 39-37.  Regina was 0/4 on the powerplay and 3/3 killing penalties.

The attendance was 5.759.

Regina (44-11-7-1) is back at it Saturday night when they host the Calgary Hitmen in a 7:00 pm faceoff on 620 CKRM.

RP

@rodpedersen