Getting into the must-win situation of the season, the Regina Pats did the exact opposite as they lost to the Prince Albert Raiders 6-1 on Saturday night at the Art Hauser Centre.
The four-point game was important for both clubs as they are chasing the final playoff spot(s). With the win the Raiders move into the ninth spot with 57 points, leapfrogging the Hitmen who have 56 points. The Pats are stuck in 11th in the conference with 53 points.
Believe it or not, the game was tied at 1-1 after the opening period. The Raiders then scored five unanswered goals (two in the second, three in the third) to take the game 6-1. Six different Raiders lit the lamp in the win.
Anyone else got 'Shut up and Drive' by Rihanna stuck in their heads? @PARaidersHockey pic.twitter.com/uLoxBWfNF5
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 3, 2022
Keaton Sorensen picked up the puck in the neutral zone and went wide into the Pats zone where he was able to drive past the Pats’ defense. The 2002-born forward was able to tuck it underneath Drew Sim for his 10th of the season to give the Raiders a 1-0 lead at 2:12 of the first period.
🚨 BEDARD SHORTHANDED 🚨
Connor Bedard ties the franchise record for goals in a season by a 16-year-old with his 45th of the year! It's the first SHG of his career.
We are tied 1-1 in the 1st.#MarchOn | #REGvsPA pic.twitter.com/cR429gU4MC
— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) April 3, 2022
While killing a penalty, Connor Bedard got control of the puck just inside the Pats’ blue line and broke in alone on Tikhon Chaika. Nothing fancy, just a rip by Bedard that beat the Raider goaltender high glove side for his first career shorthanded goal, his 45th of the season at 12:59 to tie the game up at 1-1.
Bedard’s goal tied that Pats’ franchise record for goals by a 16-year-old that was originally set by Jeff Friesen back in 1992-93.
The game headed into the first-period break tied at 1-1 and the Pats up 11-9 on the shot clock.
It may have taken four straight powerplays but the Pats’ special teams finally ended up biting them.
The @PARaidersHockey scored two goals in seven seconds.
For your viewing pleasure and to save time, we decided to clip them both in one video. Enjoy!@NHLBlackhawks pic.twitter.com/Lav3gk9uFn
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 3, 2022
The Raiders worked the puck around the Pats zone and Reece Vitelli wired home a one-timer past Sim for his 25th of the season. The powerplay goal gave the Raiders a 2-1 lead at 15:08 of the second period.
Off the next faceoff, Nolan Allan broke in along the sideboards and put a shot toward the Pats net which deflected in off Ryker Evans’ skate to give the Raiders a 3-1 lead just seven seconds later.
The Raiders outshot the Pats 13-8 in the frame (22-19 overall) and carried a 3-1 lead after forty minutes.
A big third period was needed for the Pats to get back into the game.
Not the start they wanted.
With the Raiders on a 4-on-3 Landon Kosior’s point shot beat Sim top corner just 41 seconds into the third period to give the Raiders a three-goal lead at 4-1. His 18th of the season gave the Raiders a huge cushion early in the frame.
The Raiders make the Pats pay, again with their third powerplay goal of the game as Evan Herman (23rd) one-timed a feed past Sim to give the Raiders a 5-1 lead at 9:04 of the third period.
Eric Johnston got into the act as he threw a point shot at the Pat goal and the seeing-eye shot beat a screened Sim. His second of the season at 7:42 gave the Raiders a 6-1 lead.
The Pats had no answer as the time ran out.
Prince Albert outshot the Pats 28-26 overall in the game.
The Pats went 0-for-4 on the powerplay while the Raiders went 3-for-8.
Chaika stopped 25 of 26 to pick up his 20th win of the season for the Raiders. Sim stopped 22 of 28 to fall to 6-17-1-2 on the season.
Patterings: It was announced earlier in the day that 19-year-old Ozzy Wiesblatt’s season was over because of an upper-body injury… The three stars were a Raider sweep: Allan, Vitelli, and Herman grabbed the honors… The Pats next action is Tuesday, April 5 when they travel to Brandon to face the Wheat Kings.
