PREVIEW: OIL KINGS AT PATS FRIDAY NIGHT

Overview
The Regina Pats (4-11-0-0) continue their home stand on Friday night against the Edmonton Oil Kings (9-7-0-1). Puck drop is at 7 p.m. at the Brandt Centre. The Pats are coming off a 7-1 win on home ice over the Swift Current Broncos. The Oil Kings were last in action on Sunday at home to Lethbridge and beat the Hurricanes 6-3. Tonight is the first of four meetings between the Pats and Oil Kings in 2018-19. Tonight’s game can be heard with Bennett Dunlop Ford Pats Hockey starting at 6:35 p.m. on 620 CKRM.

The Lead Up: Pats down Broncos for first home win of 2018-19
The Regina Pats picked up their first home win of the season on Sunday, besting the Swift Current Broncos 7-1 at the Brandt Centre. Austin Pratt got the scoring started for the Pats late in the first, his sixth of the year and Regina took the 1-0 lead to the break. 15 seconds into the second, Jake Leschyshyn forced a turnover below the goal line and set up Nick Henry in front for his sixth and it was 2-0. The Pats then got a shorthanded goal from Scott Mahovlich, his second, and a powerplay goal from Sergei Alkhimov, his third, to extend the lead to 4-0. Swift Current got one back with 40 seconds left in the period and trailed 4-1 after 40 minutes. In the third, Sergei Alkhimov (4) and Austin Pratt (7) both scored their second goals of the contest to make it 6-1. Riley Krane rounded out the scoring with his second in a 7-1 Pats victory. Regina outshot the Broncos 40-22, the powerplay was one for four and the penalty kill five for five with a shorthanded goal. Aaron Hyman paced the offence with three assists, while Nick Henry, Jake Leschyshyn, Austin Pratt, Sergei Alkhimov and Duncan Pierce each had two points. Max Paddock made 21 saves for his third win of the season.

Pierce Contributing
Pats forward Duncan Pierce is finding his offensive stride in his 18-year-old season. The product of Winnipeg has already set a career high with three goals and six points through 14 games this year. In his last three games, Pierce has a goal and three assists to go along with a plus-two rating and eight shots on goal. In Sunday’s win over Swift Current, Pierce had two assists, including one while shorthanded in the second period. Pierce was listed by the Pats ahead of the 2016-17 season and has appeared in 48 career games, recording three goals and eight points.

Penalty Kill Shutout
The Pats penalty kill did not allow a goal against for the first time this season on Sunday against the Broncos. Regina was five for five in the game and also picked up a shorthanded goal from Scott Mahovlich. Despite sitting at 22nd in the league at 67.5 per cent for the season, the club has made some strides on the PK in their last 5 games, going 20 for 27 (75%). If you exclude the Medicine Hat game where the Tigers went 4 for 6, the Pats are 86% in the other four contests.

Creta Streaking
Pats defenceman Marco Creta is enjoying the longest point streak of his WHL career with points in three straight games. The 18-year-old has an assist in each of the Pats last three contests and is second among all Pats defenceman with four points on the season. From Oak Bluff, Manitoba, Creta was listed and signed during training camp in 2017 and has put up a goal and nine points in 44 career games. Creta’s four assists this season ranks in a tie for 44th among all WHL defencemen.

Upcoming Schedule
Pats Vs Saskatoon – Saturday November 3, 7 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM)
Pats Vs Tri-City – Friday November 9, 7 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM)
Pats Vs Swift Current – Saturday November 10, 7 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM)

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