Bedard's Career-High Six Points Leads Pats to 6-2 Win
January 8, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Regina Pats News Release
Regina, Sask. - In Connor Bedard's first game at the Brandt Centre in 57 days, the North Vancouver, B.C. product weaved some magic as he recorded his first career six-point game (4G-2A) in a 6-2 Regina Pats victory over the Calgary Hitmen.
The largest crowd of the season (4,761) saw Bedard score an even strength goal, a powerplay marker, and a pair of shorthanded goals. He also setup a pair of powerplay goals along the way. In net, Drew Sim backstopped the Pats to their 19th victory of the season, making 42 saves on 44 shots, as he improved to 15-10-1 on the season. The victory also snapped the Pats three game losing-streak.
The Pats had a 3-1 lead after two periods of play before blowing it wide open in the third, with Bedard finding the back of the net three times in the third on his way to recording his second career four goal game. Tanner Howe (1G-1A), Alexander Suzdalev (1G-1A) and Tanner Brown (2A) also chipped in with multi-point performances.
For Calgary, they got goals from Jacob Wright and Carson Wetsch. Ethan Buenaventura made 21 saves on 27 shots in the Hitmen net. Their three game winning-streak came to an end.
THE GOALS
First Period
REG 1-0 at 8:42 - Connor Bedard (28), assisted by Alexander Suzdalev and Tanner Brown (PP) // The Pats worked the puck around the point on the powerplay and Suzdalev sent a cross ice pass to Bedard who ripped a shot from the right circle high glove-side past Buenaventura to give the Pats a 1-0 lead.
Second Period
REG 2-0 at 2:35 - Alexander Suzdalev (22), assisted by Tanner Brown and Connor Bedard (PP) // Bedard retuned the favour to Suzdalev with a long cross-ice pass to the Capitals third-round pick as he fired a wrister past a screened Buenaventura to extend the Pats lead to a pair 2-0.
REG 3-0 at 11:34 - Tanner Howe (22), assisted by Zack Stringer and Connor Bedard (PP) // Bedard sent a pass net front to Stringer who chipped away at the puck and was unable to connect, but Howe found the puck and made no mistake notching another powerplay tally and extend the Pats lead to 3-0.
CGY 3-1 at 13:41 - Jacob Wright (8), unassisted // Bateman lost control of the puck in front of Sim and Wright found the loose puck which he directed back toward Bateman which deflected in off his skate and past Sim to get Calgary on the board at 3-1.
Third Period
REG 4-1 at 3:31 - Connor Bedard (29), assisted by Borya Valis and Tanner Howe // Howe passed to Valis cross-ice who found Bedard streaking to the Hitmen net and he tapped it in for his second of the game to give the Pats a 4-1 lead.
CGY 4-2 at 5:22 - Carson Wetsch (6), assisted by Matteo Danis and Maxim Muranov // The Hitmen won a battle behind the Pats net and Danis fed a pass in front to Wetsch who tapped it past Sim to get the Hitmen back to within a pair at 4-2.
REG 5-2 at 5:56 - Connor Bedard (30), unassisted (SH) // Bedard stole the puck in the neutral zone, skated in all alone to Buenaventura and tucked home a nice goal five-hole to complete the hat-trick and restore the Pats three-goal lead at 5-2.
REG 6-2 at 10:03 - Connor Bedard (31), assisted by Parker Berge (SH) // Bedard passed to Berge in his own zone, then Berge sent a pass to Bedard who broke in one-on-one and fired home his fourth goal of the game to give the Pats a 6-2 lead.
STATISTICS
SOG: REG - 5-13-9-27 | CGY 9-17-18-44
PP: REG - 3/5 | CGY - 0/7
Face-Offs: REG - 24 | CGY - 43
GOALTENDING BATTLE
Regina: Drew Sim (44 shots/42 saves)
Calgary: Ethan Buenaventura (27 shots/21 saves)
3 STARS
First: Bedard (4G-2A, 13 shots) - Pats
Second: Sim (42 saves on 44 shots) - Pats
Third: Suzdalev (1G-1A) - Pats
NOTES
Connor Bedard returned to the Pats' line-up after an 11-game absence. His last contest was December 4, 2022 in Edmonton where he had five points. He came in with a 27-game point streak. He extended the streak with a first period powerplay goal and ended the contest with his first career 6 point (4G-2A) game.
Defenceman Omen Harmacy made his Pats' debut after being acquired from the Winnipeg ICE for Easton Armstrong on January 7, 2023. He is the 1,250th skater to play in a regular season or playoff game in Pats history and 1,416th including the goalies.
Alexander Suzdalev ended a career high pointless streak at three games with two points (1G-1A).
Tanner Howe snapped his seven game goalless-streak with his 22nd of the season.
The Pats improve to 2-4 in the second half of the season.
Drew Sim made 42 saves on 44 shots which is his second most saves in a game this season.
The Pats special teams were special as they went 3/5 on the powerplay, and killed all seven Hitmen man advantages and scored a pair of shorthanded goals.
UP NEXT
The Pats host the third game of a four-game homestand on Friday, January 13th when they host the Saskatoon Blades with a 7:00 P.M. puck drop at the Brandt Centre. You can purchase your tickets for the game here.
Western Hockey League Stories from January 8, 2023
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- ICE Doubles-Up on Portland - Winnipeg Ice
- Silvertips Send Zellweger, Hofer to Kamloops for Four Players, Ten Picks - Everett Silvertips
- Kamloops Blazers Acquire Olen Zellweger and Ryan Hofer from Everett Silvertips - Kamloops Blazers
- Everett Sends Zellweger, Hofer to Kamloops for Four Players, 10 WHL Draft Picks - Everett Silvertips
- ICE Acquire Ostapchuk - Winnipeg Ice
- Giants Acquire Three First-Round Picks, 2 Forwards, 2 Prospects, and a Fifth-Round Pick from Winnipeg for Zack Ostapchuk - Vancouver Giants
- Bedard's Return Keys Pats over Hitmen - Calgary Hitmen
- Bedard's Career-High Six Points Leads Pats to 6-2 Win - Regina Pats
- Game Day Hub: January 8 at Winnipeg - Portland Winterhawks
- Regina Hosts Calgary in Bedard's Return to Brandt Centre - Regina Pats
- Game #34 - ICE vs Portland Winterhawks, 5:00 at the ICE Cave Inside Wayne Fleming Arena - Winnipeg Ice
- Heidt and Young Propel Cougars to First Win of 2023 - Prince George Cougars
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