Pats Pick up 4 of 6 Points on Alberta Road Trip
December 18, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Regina Pats News Release
Edmonton, Alta. - The Regina Pats earned four of a possible six points this weekend to close off the first-half schedule, falling 3-2 in overtime to the Edmonton Oil Kings on Sunday inside Rogers Place.
Jaxsin Vaughan and Borya Valis scored for the Pats while Madden Mulawka made 27 saves in his Regina Pats and 2023-24 season debut. The Pats finish their first-half schedule 3-1-1-1 over their last six games while also picking up four of six points over their three-in-three weekend in Alberta.
Going into the Christmas break, the Pats are now 13-16-2-2 with 30 points which is just two points back of the eighth and final playoff spot.
Meanwhile, the The Oil Kings snapped their four-game losing-streak with their ninth victory of the season, picking up their third victory of the season against the Pats. Marshall Finnie scored the overtime winner with under a minute left in the extra-frame. Nathan Pilling opened the scoring for Edmonton in the first and Joe Iginla picked up his first career WHL goal to tie the contest at two late in the second period. Kolby Hay grabbed the win, allowing two goals on 35 shots.
FINAL SCORE: Oil Kings 3, Pats 2 (OT)
THE GOALS
First Period
1-0 Oil Kings at 9:08 - Nathan Pilling (6), assisted by Blake Fiddler & Roan Woodward (PP) // Fiddler carried the puck deep into the Pats zone and from behind the net, he sent a pass to the right circle to Pilling who one-timed it past Mulawka to give the Oil Kings a 1-0 lead midway through the first period.
Second Period
1-1 Pats at 2:58 - Jaxsin Vaughan (7), assisted by Carson Haynes // Haynes kept the play above and found Vaughan in the slot as he sent a nice shot blocker side on Hay to tie the game up at 1-1 early in the second period.
2-1 Pats at 3:56 - Borya Valis (11), assisted by Parker Berge & Kolten Bridgeman // Berge sent a pass to Valis who was deep in the Oil Kings zone, and he took a shot from the goal line that snuck through Hay to give the Pats their first lead of the contest at 2-1.
2-2 Oil Kings at 16:05 - Joe Iginla (1), assisted by John Szabo // A turnover at the offensive blueline led to an Oil Kings rush led by Szabo who found a streaking Iginla and he made no mistake firing the puck past Mulawka's outstretched glove to tie the game at 2-2.
Third Period
No scoring.
Overtime
3-2 Oil Kings at 4:14 - Marshall Finnie (10), assisted by Gavin Hodnett // The Oil Kings broke in on a two-on-one and Finnie kept, shot, and scored to give the Oil Kings a 3-2 win.
THE STATISTICS
SOG: Regina - 11-11-10-3-35 | Edmonton - 8-12-6-4-30
PP: Regina - 0/2 | Edmonton - 1/7
Face-offs: Regina - 30 | Edmonton - 34
THE GOALTENDING BATTLE
Regina: Madden Mulawka ( 27 saves / 30 shots)
Edmonton: Kolby Hay ( 33 saves / 35 shots)
THE 3 STARS
First: Marshall Finnie - Oil Kings (1G, OT winner)
Second: Joe Iginla - Oil Kings (1G)
Third: Borya Valis - Pats (1G)
JUST NOTES
Madden Mulawka made his Pats debut in goal. He's the 168th goalie (1,428th player overall) to play in a regular season or playoff game in franchise history.
Parker Berge grabbed an assist, he has 10 points (4G-6A) in his last six games.
Borya Valis scored his 11th of the season; he now has 10 points (5G-5A) on a seven-game point streak. He has also scored in four straight contests.
Kolten Bridgeman picked up an assist and now has assists in back-to-back games.
Jaxsin Vaughan scored for the first time in three games but has three markers in his last six games.
Carson Haynes has three points (2G-1A) in his last three games and four points in his last five (2G-2A).
WHAT'S NEXT
The Pats will now go on their Christmas break. Their next game action is on Wednesday, December 27 when the Pats travel to Brandon to play the Wheat Kings with a 7:00 p.m. puck drop.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 18, 2023
- 2024 NHL Draft Eligible Forward Parascak Named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week - Prince George Cougars
- Former Americans Alternate Captain Bouchard Named WHL Grad of the Month for November/December - Tri-City Americans
- Giants Netminder Mirwald Named WHL Goaltender of the Week - Vancouver Giants
- Iginla Named WHL's Player of the Week - Kelowna Rockets
- WHL Announces Weekly Award Winners - WHL
- Pats Pick up 4 of 6 Points on Alberta Road Trip - Regina Pats
- Wild Head into Holidays with 6-1 Win Over Everett, Spoil Silvertips' First Visit to Wenatchee - Wenatchee Wild
- Broncos Fall to Hitmen in Final Game Before Christmas Break - Swift Current Broncos
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