Tigers Take Game Three, Pats Look to Rebound Tomorrow
WHL Regina Pats

Tigers Take Game Three, Pats Look to Rebound Tomorrow

Published on April 1, 2026 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Regina Pats News Release


Regina, Sask. - The Regina Pats and Medicine Hat Tigers were locked in a tight battle through much of the opening 40 minutes, but a third-period surge powered the Tigers to an 8-2 win Tuesday night at the Brandt Centre, giving them a 2-1 lead in the series.

Despite the lopsided final, the game was far closer early on. Shots were even through two periods, and the Pats generated several quality chances, but Tigers netminder Jordan Switzer proved to be the difference, turning aside multiple grade-A opportunities to keep Regina at bay while the Tigers capitalized at the other end.

Medicine Hat struck three times in the first period to seize control. Yaroslav Bryzgalov opened the scoring at 7:47 after forcing a turnover and finishing on a breakaway. Kade Stengrim doubled the lead midway through the frame with a strong individual effort, and Bryce Pickford made it 3-0 late in the period with a wrister from the slot.

The Pats responded early in the second when Ruslan Karimov converted on the power play just 43 seconds in, giving Regina some life. However, Andrew Basha quickly restored the Tigers' momentum with a pair of goals, one at even strength and another on the power play, to push the lead to 5-1. Liam Pue answered moments later with a sharp individual effort to cut it to 5-2, but a late turnover led to Carter Cunningham's goal with 31 seconds left in the period, restoring a four-goal cushion.

That late strike proved to be a turning point, as the Tigers pulled away in the third. Noah Davidson extended the lead with a shot through traffic before Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll buried a rebound just 15 seconds later to cap the scoring at 8-2.

Switzer finished with 25 saves on 27 shots, earning second-star honours, while Basha's two-goal performance led the way offensively for Medicine Hat. Marek Schlenker made 14 saves on 19 shots before being relieved by Taylor Tabashniuk, who stopped 17 of 20 in the loss.

THE GOALS

First Period

Tigers 1-0 - #10 Yaroslav Bryzgalov (2), assisted by #25 Nilopekka Muhonen at 7:47 // The Tigers caused a turnover along the right boards, and Bryzgalov got in alone on Schlenker and tucked it five hole to make it 1-0 for the visitors.

Tigers 2-0 - #21 Kade Stengrim (1), assisted by #Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll & #22 Josh Van Mulligan at 13:54 // Stengrim received a drop pass just inside the Pats blueline, took the puck deep past the goal line, then cut in front and tucked the puck under Schlenker to make it 2-0 Tigers.

Tigers 3-0 - #27 Bryce Pickford (1), assisted by #10 Yaroslav Bryzgalov & #39 Noah Davidson at 19:25 // Pickford got the puck just outside the Pats line, cut through to the slot and let a wrister go that eluded Schlenker to extend the lead to 3-0.

Second Period

Pats 3-1 - #25 Ruslan Karimov (2), assisted by #19 Maddox Schultz & #27 Caden Brown at 43 seconds (PP) // Schultz sent a pass to Karimov below the Tigers' goal line. He then cut to the front and let a shot go that deflected off a Tigers defender and past Switzer to get the Pats on the board at 3-1.

Tigers 4-1 - #34 Andrew Basha (1), unassisted at 9:53 // Basha got the puck at the left circle skated toward the dot and fired a wrister high blocker side to make it 4-1 for the Tigers.

Tigers 5-1 - #34 Andrew Basha (1), assisted by Marcus Ruck at 12:25 (PP) // Basha got the puck near the top of the right circle and skated toward the slot, and his shot beat Schlenker high glove side to make it 5-1.

Pats 5-2 - #13 Liam Pue (1), unassisted at 12:54 // Pue streaked in over the Tigers line along the right boards, cut to the middle of the circle and fired a shot far side to beat Switzer to get the Pats to within three at 5-2.

Tigers 6-2 - #17 Carter Cunningham (1), assisted by #27 Bryce Pickford at 19:29 // The Pats turned the puck over in their zone and the puck caromed off Pickford to Cunningham who beat Taylor Tabashniuk glove side to make it 6-2.

Third Period

Tigers 7-2 - #39 Noah Davidson (1), assisted by #4 Gavin Kor at 11:56 // Davidson fired a shot from the high slot that beat a screened Tabashniuk to make it 7-2.

Tigers 8-2 - #11 Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll (2), assisted by #18 Jonas Woo & #21 Kade Stengrim at 12:11 // Woo's shot from the slot was stopped by Tabashniuk, but Gordon-Carroll picked up the rebound and tapped it past the Pat netminder to make it 8-2.

Shots on Goal

Pats: 12 - 11 - 5 - 28 Tigers: 13 - 9 - 17 - 39

Power Plays

Pats: 1/4 Tigers: 1/4

Goaltending

Pats: Marek Schlenker - 14 saves on 19 shots (32:25) and Taylor Tabashniuk - 17 saves on 20 shots (27:33) Tigers: Jordan Switzer - 25 saves on 27 shots

Three Stars

First Star: Basha (2G) Second Star: Switzer (25 SV) Third Star: Pickford (1G-1A)

COMING UP

The Regina Pats will look to regroup quickly as they aim to even the series in Game four on home ice. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm. Game five will be at Co-op Place in Medicine Hat on Saturday.

Check out the Regina Pats Statistics

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