Pats Force Game 7 at SaskTel Centre Monday
April 9, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release
Saskatoon Blades' Lukas Hansen and Aidan De La Gorgendiere on game night
(Saskatoon Blades)
Saskatoon, SK - You can't write this stuff.
Alternate captain Trevor Wong scored two goals as the Saskatoon Blades dropped Game 6 in their first-round best-of-seven series 5-3 at the Brandt Centre vs the Regina Pats Saturday night.
This series has seen everything including multi-goal comebacks, three overtimes, and series lead changes, so it's only fitting fans are treated to a Game 7 at SaskTel Centre between the provincial rivals.
The Blades got put on their heels early by the Pats. Hit-after-hit and chance-after-chance in front of Saskatoon's crease brought a ruckus crowd into the game early. All that said, it was the Blue and Gold who struck first.
Carrot River, SK's own Jayden Wiens darted to Regina's crease off the bench and patted a rebound through the legs of netminder Drew Sim. The play began with Flin FLon, MB. product Justin Lies carrying the puck into the zone and throwing a shot on net. Wiens has been lights out this series with four goals and five points in six games while continuing to be one of the club's most effective energizers.
The Pats didn't slow down as Washington Capitals prospect Alexander Suzdalev one-timed his first of the postseason 14:53 through the first. The 6-foot-3 winger's goal was crucial for the home side going into intermission locked at 1-1.
Regina were all gas for the first half of the second period resulting in Suzdalev's second of the game 5:04 through the frame on the powerplay. Both WHL phenom Connor Bedard and Columbus Blue Jackets property Stanislav Svozil assisted on each goal. Suzdalev gives himself 10 points this series.
Prince Albert, SK. product Tanner Howe notched his second goal and fourth point of the series over halfway through the second, extending Regina's lead to 3-1.
The Blades had been in this spot twice this series trailing 3-1, and came back both times to win 4-3 in overtime. Bringing things in favour of the Bridge City was Wong who scored his first of the 2023 playoffs with under 2:30 left in the second. It's a massive goal for the 5-foot-9 playmaker who had six assists coming into tonight and got the monkey off his back. The Vancouver, BC. product led the team in points during the regular season with a career-high 86 in a full 68-game slate.
The Blades took a penalty sending the league's most effective powerplay back to work. The Blades killed it off with nine seconds of the Vaughn Watterodt roughing minor carrying over into the third period.
Wong added his second of the game under 1:30 into the third to tie things 3-3.
It was short-lived as Pats captain Bedard scored his league-leading 11th of the postseason to put Regina up 4-3 less than a minute later.
What came next was a controversial goal from Pats forward Zackary Shantz that made it 5-3. The Sucker Creek, AB. product's goal was initially called a good goal but went to review for being kicked inside the blue paint. The official came out on the ice and waved no goal, but went back to the box to review it for a second time. This time when he came off it was deemed a good goal saying it went off a stick sending confusion and disapproval from the Blades bench and fans in attendance.
Down two goals in the third period for a third time in Regina this series it wasn't crazy to think the Blades could pull off another comeback only this time it came to no avail. The Pats stay alive with a 5-3 win to force a Game 7.
What's Next?
Next-Game-Apr10
Monday, Apr. 10th. History will be made!
It's do-or-die for both sides when they meet in Game 7 in Saskatoon at SaskTel Centre!
Tickets go on sale Sunday at 10:00am.
Images from this story
 Saskatoon Blades' Lukas Hansen and Aidan De La Gorgendiere on game night |
Western Hockey League Stories from April 9, 2023
- Winterhawks Announce Second-Round Playoff Schedule - Portland Winterhawks
- Americans Take on Cougars for Game 6 in Prince George - Tri-City Americans
- Hawks Take 3-2 OT Win in Series Finale - Everett Silvertips
- Pats Force Game 7 at SaskTel Centre Monday - Saskatoon Blades
- Fromm-Delorme Sends Winterhawks to Second Round - Portland Winterhawks
- Pats Force Game Seven With 5-3 Win Over Blades - Regina Pats
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