The Regina Pats will be heading to the Western Hockey League postseason for the first time since 2018 after they defeated the Moose Jaw Warriors 7-3 pn Saturday night.
Connor Bedard led the way for the Pats with a five-point night (3G-2A).
Regina jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period with Parker Berge opening the scoring with a short-handed goal. Riley Ginnell and Braxton Whitehead extended the Pats lead to three.
Moose Jaw would get on the scoreboard 45 seconds after Whitehead’s goal with Martin Rysavy scoring to make it 3-1.
After the Warriors made it a one-goal game, Bedard scored a pair of goals in a 3:41 span to give the Pats a three-goal cushion.
Just before the end of the second period, Jagger Firkus scored his 37th goal of the season, as the Pats led 5-3 after 40 minutes.
Zack Stringer scored for Regina and then Bedard finished the scoring with his 69th goal of the season, it was also the Pats captain’s ninth hat-trick this season.
Moose Jaw outshot Regina 48-22 as Drew Sim made 45 saves to earn the win for Regina.
After the game Pats head coach John Paddock said the Pats success on Saturday began with a little motivation from Friday night’s loss.
“When Moose Jaw put out their top players, their top guns on the powerplay with 1:20 left, that really set the stage for the next game. ”
Paddock added. “Other than a couple penalties in the second period there wasn’t much to complain about.”
The Pats head coach said Sim was really good on Saturday and was the team’s best penalty killer as the Pats were able to limit the Warriors to one powerplay goal on seven opportunities.
Regina’s position in the standings remains to be determined as they sit in 6th spot in the Eastern Conference. The Pats trail Lethbridge by five points with three games remaining. Regina leads Medicine Hat by five points with the Tigers having four games left on their schedule while the Pats have three.
On Sunday, the Pats will wrap up their weekend in what could be a playoff preview as they meet the Saskatoon Blades in the Bridge City.
Coverage on 620 CKRM begins with the pre-game show at 3:35, Dante De Caria will have the play-by-play beginning at 4:00.
