The Regina Pats (2-1-1-0) hosted the Prince Albert Raiders (1-1-0-0) in the second half of their back-to-back preseason home-and-home. The Raiders took game one of the two-game set in a high-scoring contest 8-6. The Pats looked to bounce back in game two.
In their first game at the Brandt Centre since April 27th, special teams were special on Saturday when Cole Carrier scored a trio of markers all while shorthanded. Cole Dubinsky also helped on the special teams counting a pair of power-play goals in the Pats 6-2 win. Carter Chorney chipped in with an even-strength marker to open the scoring. Michael Horon (power play) and Evan Herman replied for the Raiders.
Regina played the game with 11 forwards, and six defensemen, while Prince Albert dressed 13 forwards dressed and five defensemen. The Raiders also just dressed one of their own netminders. Pats prospect Kelton Pyne suited up as Prince Albert’s emergency backup.
Both teams dressed younger rosters with the averaging Pats 17.89 years and the Raiders at 17.65 years made for a very interesting rematch.
First Period
The opening 20 minutes of the rematch was almost completely opposite of Friday night’s matchup. Both teams had numerous quality scoring chances but only one found the back of the net.
Overage forward Chorney scored the opening goal of the game when he grabbed the loose puck and slid it past the Raiders goalie at 14:05 of the first period. Zack Smith had the lone assist as his shot was partially blocked and Chorney swooped in and gave the Pats a 1-0 lead.
The shot clock read 16-9 for the Raiders after the opening 20 minutes. Matthew Kieper and Max Hildebrand play strong in the opening period.
Second Period
The second period opened very similar to that of the first with both teams getting opportunities early but neither team could count.
Carrier notched his second goal of the preseason to give the Pats a 2-0 lead 12:45 into the second. He scooped up the puck and beat the Raiders defenseman wide and broke in on a breakaway. Carrier’s backhand beat Hildebrand to give the Pats a two-goal lead.
On the same penalty, Prince Albert’s Horon finished off a nice passing play that beat Kieper to get the Raiders on the board. The powerplay marker made the game 2-1 at 14:01.
Dubinsky kept up his hot streak with a powerplay goal of his own with less than 40 seconds left in the period. His wrist shot through traffic beat the Raider netminder to restore the Pats’ two-goal cushion. His third goal of the preseason (ninth point) gave the Pats a 3-1 lead heading into the final stretch. Connor Bedard picked up the lone helper on the goal.
The Pats outshot the Raiders 11-6 in the second period and now trail by just a pair of shots at 22-20.
Third Period
Early in the final period, Bedard broke through the Raiders line and chipped a shot past the Raider goalie but not the post. The sparse crowd gave an audible “ahh” at the play and the shot attempt.
Carrier went to work again. He collected his second shorthanded goal of the game (and third of the preseason) as he beat the defenseman to the puck in the Raider zone, outwaited the goalie, and gave the Pats a three-goal lead. His goal made the score 4-1 for the Pats at 3:10 of the third period.
The Raiders got back to within a pair as Evan Herman scored at 6:01 of the final frame. Herman’s shot was deflected by a Pat player which sent the puck to the front of the net off a defenseman in front and past Kieper to make the game 4-2.
Penalty trouble for the Raiders eventually caught up to them. After taking their fourth consecutive minor, the Pats notched a power-play goal. On a nice pass from Bedard, Dubinsky was able to connect with his second goal of the game came on that man advantage giving the Pats a 5-2 lead at 15:35.
Carrier was not done with this one as he completed the hat-trick… you guessed it… shorthanded. Mr. Shorthanded picked up the puck and went in on the Raider netminder and scored blocker-side to seal the contest for the Pats at 18:47 of the third period.
The Pats outshot the Raiders 13-7 in the third and 33-29 overall in the game.
Patterings
The Pats had a clean sweep of the three stars: Carrier (first), Kieper (second), and Dubinsky (third). Pats’ Kieper made 27 save in the win while Prince Albert’s goalie Hildebrand also made 27 saves in the loss. Dubinsky now has ten points (4G, 6A) while his linemate Bedard’s two helpers increased his point to eight points (5G, 3A) in the preseason. All four of Carrier’s pre-season goals have come while shorthanded and has collected six points in the preseason. The Pats went 2-for-6 on the powerplay while killing 3-of-4 penalties.
