PREVIEW: PATS AT HITMEN IN GAME 3 ON TUESDAY

REGINA at CALGARY
Game 3, WHL Eastern Quarterfinal
Pats lead 2-0
7:00 pm MT
620 CKRM, Access/Shaw

Overview
The Regina Pats (2-0) are on the road Tuesday night for game three of their first round WHL Playoff series against the Calgary Hitmen (0-2). Puck drop at the Scotiabank Saddledome is at 7 p.m. The Pats won games one and two of the series on home ice Friday night, 5-2 and Saturday 5-1. The game can be heard on 620 CKRM with Bennett Dunlop Ford Pats Hockey beginning at 6:35 p.m. It will also be broadcast on the WHL on Shaw and Access 7.

Lead Up: Steel’s Five Point Night Give Pats 2-0 Series Lead
The Regina Pats took a 2-0 series lead on the Calgary Hitmen with a 5-1 win at the Brandt Centre in game two on Saturday night. Dawson Leedahl got the scoring started in the first for the Pats with his first of the post-season. Calgary tied it early in the second but the Pats responded with goals from Adam Brooks and Leedahl again to lead 3-1 after two. In the third, Nick Henry and Sam Steel added singles and the Pats took the 5-1 decision. Steel led the Regina offence with a goal and four assists for a five point night. Dawson Leedahl scored twice and had an assist while Tyler Brown made 26 saves. The Pats outshot Calgary 39-27, the powerplay was one for three and the penalty kill four for four.

Series At A Glance
The Pats held serve on home ice in games one and two at the Brandt Centre for a 2-0 series lead. Regina has scored 10 goals through two games while the Hitmen have three. The Pats have gone two for five on the powerplay (40 per cent) and the penalty kill is seven for eight (85.7 per cent), with a shorthanded goal. Regina has put 81 shots on goal through two games, the Hitmen have 49. Sam Steel leads all WHL playoff scorers with six points, one goal and five assists. Adam Brooks is next with five points in the series while Connor Hobbs has four points and Dawson Leedahl three. Tyler Brown is 2-0 with a 1.50 goals against average and a .939 save percentage. Calgary is led by Jake Kryski who has two goals and Tyler Mrkonjic who has two assists. Cody Porter is 0-2 with a 4.60 goals against average and an .871 save percentage. After tonight’s game three, the two clubs will meet in game four on Thursday in Calgary.

Steel’s Big Night
2016/17 Bob Clarke Trophy winner Sam Steel exploded in a big way in game two on Saturday night. The Anaheim Ducks prospect scored a goal and had four assists for a five point outing. Steel was in on each of the five goals for the Pats in their victory and leads the WHL Playoffs with six points (1G, 5A), in two games. For his efforts, Steel was named the WHL Player of the Week on Monday. For his career, Steel has played in 16 playoff games, recording seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points.

Henry Makes Immediate Impact
Pats forward and rookie of the year Nick Henry made his WHL Playoffs debut on Saturday in game two. The 17-year-old missed game one due to a suspension. Henry, in his first game, scored in the third period to give Regina the 4-1 lead. Henry finished second among all WHL rookies in the regular season with 81 points, 35 goals and 46 assists.

Upcoming Schedule
Game 4, Pats @ Calgary – Thursday March 30, 7 p.m. – Scotiabank Saddledome (CKRM)
Game 5, Pats Vs Calgary – Sunday April 2, 4 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM) If Nec
Game 6, Pats @ Calgary – Monday April 3, 7 p.m. – Scotiabank Saddledome (CKRM) If Nec.

(Courtesy Phil Andrews/ReginaPats.com)

Tweet

Subscribe to receive free email updates: