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 Regina Pats

Pats Take Home Opener Behind Barnett's Two Goals

September 24, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Regina Pats News Release


Regina, Sask. - The Regina Pats swept their opening weekend of the 2023-24 season with a convincing 5-1 victory over the Saskatoon Blades on Saturday inside the Brandt Centre.

After a 1-1 tie through one period of play, the Pats broke the game open in the second, with Brayden Barnett scoring twice to give the group a 3-1 lead after two. In the third, Borya Valis and Braxton Whitehead (EN) would put the game away, as the Pats improve to 2-0 on the season.

It was Tanner Howe's initial goal that opened the scoring for Regina in the first. The Blades would tie it following a tally from Jordan Keller.

Kelton Pyne also played a big part in the win, making 29 saves, with 13 of them coming in the second period.

FINAL: Pats 5, Blades 1

THE GOALS

First Period

1-0 Regina at 4:54 - Tanner Howe (1), assisted by Parker Berge & Borya Valis (PP) // Berge sent a nice pass to Howe in the right circle and he ripped a one-timer past Gardner to give the Pats a 1-0 lead on the power play.

1-1 Saskatoon at 12:49 - Jordan Keller (1), assisted by Charlie Wright & Brandon Lisowsky (PP) // The Blades worked the puck around the Pats zone and Keller's one-timer snuck through Pyne's five-hole to even the score up at 1-1.

Second Period

2-1 Regina at 8:35 - Brayden Barnett (1), assisted by Tye Spencer // Spencer stole the puck from a retreating Blades defenceman and sent a pass to Barnett who was alone and buried his first of the season to give the Pats a 2-1 lead.

3-1 Regina at 12:48 - Brayden Barnett (2), assisted by Matteo Michels // Michels hit Barnett with a pass and with speed, he bore down on Gardner and sent nice backhander past the Blades goaltender before crashing the crease to give the Pats a 3-1 lead.

Third Period

4-1 Regina at 14:57 - Borya Valis (1), assisted by Tanner Howe & Tye Spencer // The Pats won a battle for the puck behind the Blades net. Howe sent a pass to the slot where Valis fired home his first of the season to give the Pats a 4-1 lead late in the third period.

5-1 Regina at 16:13 - Braxton Whitehead (2), unassisted (EN) // Whitehead grabbed the puck by the Pats goal line and he took a long-range shot that hit the open cage to give the Pats a commanding four-goal lead at 5-1.

SOG: Regina - 6-6-6-18 | Saskatoon - 9-13-8-30

PP: Regina - 1/3 | Saskatoon - 1/5

GOALTENDING BATTLE

Regina: Kelton Pyne (29 saves /30 shots)

Saskatoon: Evan Gardner (13 saves /17 shots)

Three Stars

First: Brayden Barnett - Pats (2G, 2 shots, 6 PIM, game winner)

Second: Kelton Pyne - Pats (29 saves, win)

Third: Tanner Howe - Pats (1G-1A, 7/10 on faceoffs)

NOTEWORTHY

Tanner Howe tallied two points tonight (1G-1A), giving him three points (1G-2A) to begin the season. He is now six assists away from 100, sitting at 94.

Brayden Barnett's two goals were his first career multi-goal and multi-point game.

Four different Pats players had multi-point games.

The Pats are one of three teams this season to begin the season 2-0.

The Pats improve to 5-3-1 over their last nine home openers and to 2-1 over their last three home openers.

Tonight, marked the Pats first home opener against the Blades since 2006 and 14th overall. The Pats are now 8-5-1 in home openers against the Blades.

UP NEXT

The Pats' next action is on Wednesday, September 27 when they host their Trans Canada rival Moose Jaw Warriors, and the puck drop is at 7:00 pm.


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