WHL Regina Pats

Pats Open Playoffs with 6-1 Win Over Blades

April 1, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Regina Pats News Release


Saskatoon, Sask. - The Regina Pats opened their first-round playoff series against the Saskatoon Blades with a convincing 6-1 victory on Friday inside the SaskTel Centre.

After the game was scoreless after one, Zackary Stantz opened the scoring early in the second, scoring his first career WHL goal. Connor Bedard led the way up front with three points (2G-1A), while Riley Ginnel, Stanislav Svozil and Tye Spencer rounded out the scoring. Drew Sim made 27 saves in the win.

The Blades got their only goal from Lukas Hansen. Austin Elliott made 19 saves in the game one Blades loss.

THE GOALS

First Period

No scoring.

Second Period

REG 1-0 at 4:11 - Zackary Shantz (1) assisted by Stanislav Svozil and Brayden Barnett // Svozil carried the puck into the offensive zone where he drew both Blades defenders and sent a pass to Shantz who got in alone and made no mistake to bury it to give the Pats a 1-0 lead early in the second period.

REG 2-0 at 13:12 - Connor Bedard (1) assisted by Sam Oremba and Luke Bateman // As Bedard was being hauled down, he put a high shot past Elliot to extend the lead to a pair.

Third Period

Fortunate bounce and we'll take it!

REG 3-0 at 9 seconds - Riley Ginnell (1) unassisted // Off the opening face-off of the third period, Ginnell dumped the puck toward the Blades zone and it eluded Elliott to give the Pats a 3-0 lead very early in the final frame.

SAS 3-1 at 31 seconds - Lukas Hansen (1) assisted by Jayden Weins and Vaughn Watterodt // Hansen got in close and put a high shot past Sim to get the Blades on the board and back to within a pair.

REG 4-1 at 9:54 - Stanislav Svozil (1) assisted by Alexander Suzdalev and Connor Bedard // Svozil carried the puck into the offensive zone and fired it far side, off the post and in to give the Pats a 4-1 lead.

REG 5-1 at 13:27 - Connor Bedard (2) unassisted // Bedard outdid his first goal as he split the defenders and sent it far side past Elliott to extend the lead to 5-1.

REG 6-1 at 17:29 - Tye Spencer (1) unassisted (EN) // From his own end, Spencer hit the empty net to seal the game 6-1.

STATISTICS

SOG: REG - 8-4-13-25 | SAS - 10-13-5-28

PP: REG - 0/0 | SAS - 0/2

Face-Offs: REG - 27 | SAS - 32

GOALTENDING BATTLE

Regina: Drew Sim (28 shots/27 saves)

Saskatoon: Austin Elliott (24 shots/19 saves)

3 STARS

First: Bedard (2G-1A) - Pats

Second: Sim (27 saves) - Pats

Third: Hansen (1G) - Blades

NOTES

Zackary Shantz scored his first career WHL goal.

After scoring 71 goals in the regular season, Connor Bedard sniped sniped twice and added an assist.

Riley Ginnell scored his second career playoff goal.

Stanislav Svozil scored once and added an assist in his playoff debut.

Tye Spencer notched his first career playoff marker.

UP NEXT

The Pats continue their first-round series with the Blades when they play game two as Saskatoon on Sunday, April 2 with a 4:00 p.m. puck-drop at the SaskTel Centre.

Check out the Regina Pats Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from April 1, 2023


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