Zack Stringer’s second power play goal of the game tipped the scales in the Regina Pats favour as they defeated the Saskatoon Blades 6-5 in overtime on Sunday afternoon in a wild contest in front of 10,598 fans at the SaskTel Centre and now lead the best-of-seven series 2-0.
Connor Bedard finished off with a five-point (3G-2A) game and Alexander Suzdalev chipped in with four assists.
Drew Sim made 42 saves in the win.
Sim weathered the storm from the Blades in the first period as he was busy in the early stages of the contest.
Stanislav Svozil scored his second goal of the series before Bedard extended the Pats lead with his first of the day to give the Pats a two-goal cushion.
Before the end of the period, Saskatoon answered back with Justin Wies picking up his first goal of the series.
Saskatoon opened up the second period tying the game thanks to Lukas Hansen.
Stringer would regain the lead for the Pats on the extra man advantage, which marked the first power play goal by either team in the series.
It was a short-lived lead for Regina as the Blades Josh Pillar tied the game 1:10 later.
The momentum would swing back in the Pats favour, as Bedard received a pass from Brayden Barnett and fired his second goal of the game putting his team ahead going into the second intermission.
After Bedard’s second goal, the Blades switched their goalies as Ethan Chadwick replaced Austin Elliott.
Saskatoon was able to regain the momentum in the final period with a pair of goals in a 18-second span from Jayden Wiens and Vaughn Watterodt to take a 5-4 lead.
Bedard completed the hat-trick with the Pats first shot of the third period, as the puck rebounded off the post after a shot from Pats defenceman Luke Bateman and found Bedard’s stick, who capitalized on the opportunity to tie the game.
In overtime, Regina was able to get a power play opportunity and Stringer finished the game off after Suzdalev drove to the net and managed to find Stringer who just outside of the crease. Blades defenceman Charlie Wright was slow to recover from a blocked shot which allowed Suzdalev some room to drive to the net and set up Stringer with the game-winner.
ZACK STRINGER WINS IT IN OVERTIME!!!#StandWithUs | #WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/AJcFv1kzIe
— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) April 3, 2023
Assistant Coach Ken Schneider gave credit to Suzdalev on taking advantage of the Blades short-handed predicament and also to Stringer for being in the right position.
“The willingness to go to a tough spot.”
Schneider felt the Pats got off to a strong start defensively, limiting the Blades scoring chances to the perimeter in the beginning of the game. He said things began to get away from the Pats a little bit in the third period as Saskatoon benefitted from a couple of lively bounces from the backboard to get a couple of goals.
Despite giving up five goals, Schneider was proud of Sim’s effort on Sunday.
“He battled and that’s all you ask.”
On the game tying-goal, Schneider said Bedard was able to use his instincts and find himself in the perfect position.
“He’s always around the net lurking, he’s not afraid of being there where it’s tough going, goal-scorers do that.”
The series will now shift back to the Queen City for Game 3 which will take place at the Brandt Centre on Tuesday night. Coverage on 620 CKRM begins with the pre-game show at 6:10, Dante De Caria will have the play-by-play at 7:00.
