Through the first 12 games of his year, it is safe to say that the Regina Pats were expecting more from Jake Leschyshyn. He had produced just two goals and five assists. Despite suffering a season-ending knee injury last year, the Vegas Golden Knights drafted him in the second round. With all the offense the Past saw leave town over the summer, they were putting a lot of hopes in the surgically-repaired knee Leschyshyn bares.
Leschyshyn finally broke through a bit Wednesday night in Regina, potting two goals and leading the Pats to a 5-1 win over the visiting ICE. Tanner Sidaway and Robbie Holmes also chipped in two point nights and Max Paddock stopped 22 of 23 in the Regina victory.
The ICE actually held a first period lead in this one as Alec Baer put away the rebound of a Colton Kroeker shot with 3:32 left in the first period.
The Pats would not break through in this one until we were four minutes old in the second. Holmes threw the puck low on the ice, towards the net from a tight angle and it banked off an ICE skate and in. The marker was his fourth this year.
Just 47 seconds later, it looked like Holmes had netted another one as his shot on a three-on-two rush got past Kootenay goalie Kurtis Chapman. Instead the puck had hit the post and needed to be tapped in by Leschyshyn, who was in the right place.
His positioning was equally as good on his next goal as he skated right into the path of a slick entry feed by Holmes and buried a shot past Chapman.
Koby Morrisseau, with his first goal as a Pat, netted his team’s fourth marker of the period, spelling the end for Chapman-who left after the second was over.
Dawson Davidson added one more for Regina on the power play, as he beat the recently acquired Duncan McGovern off a feed from Jonathan Smart. McGovern turned away 13 of 14 in his one period of play, while Chapman gave up four goals on 28 shots.
Regina next hosts the Red Deer Rebels on Friday. Kootneay will continue their trip through the East Division and play in Brandon on Friday.
