WHL Regina Pats

Pats Top Medicine Hat in Shootout

Published on February 24, 2016 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Regina Pats News Release


Medicine Hat, Alberta - The Regina Pats (29-23-3-4) opened a two game Central Division set against the Medicine Hat Tigers (22-34-3-2). Lane Zablocki had the shootout winner as thePats captured their sixth win in a row, defeating the Tigers 5-4.

Scoring Summary

First Period

Regina - Austin Wagner (23) - Unassisted - 1:21

Medicine Hat - Zach Fischer (1) from Forrest and Heid - 5:00

Regina - Rykr Cole (9) - Unassisted - 17:24

Second Period

Regina - Connor Hobbs (18) from Steel and Sanford - 13:18

Third Period

Medicine Hat - Clayton Kirichenko (5) from Forrest and Bradley - 2:51 (PP)

Regina - Sam Steel (20) from Wagner and Brooks - 7:30 (PP)

Medicine Hat - Brian Williams (8) - Unassisted - 15:30 (PP)

Medicine Hat - Matt Bradley (19) from Quenneville and Butcher - 18:04 (PP)

Overtime

No Scoring

Shots on Goal

Regina - 11-16-7-2-(36) Medicine Hat Tigers - 11-11-14-1-(37)

Powerplay

Regina - 2/4 Medicine Hat Tigers - 3/5

Game Story

Speedster Austin Wagner got things going in a hurry when he poked the puck past a Tigers defender, raced down the ice and fired a wrist shot by netminder Mack Shields just 1:21 in. Medicine Hat got the early goal back at the five minute mark when defenceman Brad Forrest set up Zach Fischer in the slot with a slick pass and the forward one-timed a shot by Tyler Brown. The goal was Fischer's first of the season. The 1-1 draw remained in place until late in the frame when Rykr Cole kept on a two-on-one and snuck a shot by Shields to put the Pats up 2-1 heading to the break.

Special teams dominated the second period with the Pats enjoying three powerplays and the Tigers picking up one of their own. The Pats couldn't cash in on their first two and the Tigers hit a post on theirs. The Blue and White finally struck on their third opportunity. Connor Hobbs bounced out into the slot to take a Sam Steel pass and wire an off-balance shot to the top corner at the 13:18 mark. The Pats carried the 3-1 lead into the final stanza.

The third period saw the special teams bonanza continue. The Tigers opened the frame by cutting the Pats lead to one when Clayton Kirichenko picked up his own rebound and poked it in to cut the Pats lead to one, 2:51 into the period. The Pats got another powerplay goal to put it back to a two goal advantage when Sam Steel cleaned up a rebound for his 20th on the season. Brian Williams pinched the lead to one again when he struck on a highlight reel goal beating a Pats defender and walking around Brown for the goal. The Pats goaltender kept the Blue and White in front with some brilliant stops late, but the litany of chances finally broke through. With the net empty, Matt Bradley got the puck off a blocked shot and tucked a shot inside the post to force overtime. Despite a trio of chances in overtime, the Pats couldn't put the Tigers away and the contest went to the shootout. Facing down a loss, both Sam Steel and Connor Hobbs scored to keep the extra shots going. With the advantage shifting to the Pats, Lane Zablocki buried his shot to send the Pats to a 5-4 win, their sixth in a row.

Quick Hits

- Cole Sanford played his only game in Medicine Hat without wearing Tigers colours, picking up an assist.

- The Pats sweep the season series with Medicine Hat for the first time since the 1997-98 season.

- Lane Zablocki scored his first career shootout winning goal.

- Game attendance was 4,010.

What's Next?

The Pats head to Lethbridge to close out their season series with the Hurricanes at 8 p.m. Tune in with Bennett Dunlop Ford Pats Hockey on 620 CKRM starting at 7:35 p.m. CST.

Check out the Regina Pats Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 24, 2016


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