THE MONDAY MORNING GOALIE

MONDAY ONE-LINERS

1 - The torch is still flickering for the Regina Pats, who survived a scare in Game 6 of the WHL East Final Sunday night in Lethbridge, and emerged with a 7-4 victory to advance to the WHL Finals for the first time since 1984.

2 - Social media was on fire last night, split between the Pats game and the Oilers-Ducks playoff contest in Edmonton. When Regina fell down 3-0 just 8:02 into the first period against the Hurricanes, many were writing them off and preparing for a Game 7 on Tuesday in Regina. Some of these Chicken Littles even draw a paycheque in the Regina media.

But if you've followed the Regina Pats all season, you'll know that a 3-0 deficit is nothing to wet your pants over. And, according to the WHL on Shaw's Darren Dupont, there was no panic on the Pats bench after that third goal went in. Just shock.

And then, the veteran Pats went to work and outscored the Canes 7-1 over the final 50 minutes of the game to end the series and snuff out the Hurricanes' flame.

On to Seattle.

Never doubted them for a second.

3 - Regina has advanced to Round 4 of the WHL Playoffs and they still aren't playing with house money. They go into the championship series against Seattle as the favourites, and owning home ice advantage. It's another series where the Pats will be expected to win.

And I expect them to, but this will be their toughest challenge to date.

4 - The Pats spanked the Thunderbirds 6-3 back on October 30 in the Brandt Centre in the teams' only meeting of the season. That night might've been the tipping point of the season when Regina started paying attention to the Blueshirts because it was the first sellout of the season at 6484.

Either way, it was the usual suspects who cashed in for the Pats in that victory over Seattle. Austin Wagner, Sam Steel, the departed Lane Zablocki, Adam Brooks, Dawson Leedahl and Connor Hobbs all scored while Tyler Brown made 26 saves to collect the win.

Oh, and how about the post-to-post pad save Brown made Sunday night with minutes to go in Lethbridge to keep the score 6-4 when the Hurricanes were threatening?

He just might've saved the game.

5 - Are the Tyler Brown-Haters and Darian Durant-Haters off living somewhere on a remote island consoling each other these days?

I hope so.

6 - The last time the Regina Pats were in the league final was 1983-84 and their Head Coach and General Manager was Bob Strumm. They won 48 games and their leading scorer was Dale Derkatch (159 points) while Jamie Reeve was their #1 goalie.

In 1984 a movie ticket was $2.50, the original Apple McIntosh company went on sale in January of 1984, the AIDS virus was first identified by a French immunogolist, Sony produced the first CD player, Ghostbusters, Bevery Hills Cop, The Karate Kid, Splash and Romancing the Stone were all popular at the box office.  The most popular TV shows were Magnum P.I., Dynasty, Knight Rider, Jeopardy, and Cheers.

And the Regina Pats lost Game 7 of the WHL Finals to the Kamloops Jr. Oilers.

Now the Pats are back with Unfinished Business!

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That's the Pats portion of the MMG.  I'll be back with some football notes later.

For now, I have to get to a meeting.

CHEERS,
RP
@rodpedersen

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