The Regina Pats will end off their four-game homestand with a couple of tough tests against two teams among the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) elite.

Tonight, the Pats will host the Saskatoon Blades at the Brandt Centre before meeting the Portland Winterhawks on Saturday night.

It was dominating performance by the Blades the last time they visited Regina on December 17. The final game before the Christmas holidays saw Saskatoon defeat the Pats 6-1. Regina was held to no shots in the second period and 15 in total. Connor Bedard and Stanislav Svozil were not in the lineup for Regina on that night as they were at the IIHF World Juniors tournament in Halifax.

Bedard made an electrifying return to the Pats lineup on Sunday with a career game. He scored four goals and added two assists in the 6-2 win over the Calgary Hitmen.

Heading into tonight’s action, Regina sits at an even .500 record of 19-19-1-1. They currently hold the seventh spot in the WHL’s Eastern Conference. But it’s only a loose grasp on a playoff spot. Swift Current is one point back of the Pats while Brandon is hot on the heels of both Saskatchewan teams as they are only two points back of Regina.

Next weekend the Pats and Broncos will meet in a crucial two game series against each other.

The Blades begin this evening in third spot of the Eastern Conference and are only four points back of the Winnipeg ICE for the top spot in the conference.  Like the rest of the WHL contenders, Saskatoon was aggressive at the trading deadline on Tuesday as they acquired Jake Chiasson from the Wheat Kings. A package of picks including a first rounder went back to Brandon.

Coverage for tonight’s game begins at 6:35 on 620 CKRM, Dante De Caria will have the play-by-play beginning at 7:00.