The Pats were looking to bounce back after taking a 6-3 loss to the Raiders in game one. On Sunday, the Pats were the road team against the undefeated Saskatoon Blades.
The Blades scored the final three goals as they handed the Pats their second straight 6-3 loss to open the season.
First period
The Blades opened the scoring just 56 seconds into the contest. Evan Patrician grabbed the puck out of a scramble in front of the Pat goal and ripped it past Roddy Ross.
Carson Denomie tied the contest at 1-1 just past the nine-minute mark. He went bar down blocker side beating Nolan Maier on a 4-on-3 powerplay from the top of the right circle.
Caiden Daley beat Pat defenseman Ryker Evans for the puck to the right of Ross. He fed the puck to the front of the net where Chase Wouters buried the one-timer to give the Blades a 2-1 lead at 17:54 of the first.
Just 42 seconds later Blake Stevenson stole the puck from a Pat defender, went in alone, and beat Ross glove side. The goal gave the Blades a 3-1 lead.
The Blades headed to the first intermission with a 3-1 lead and an 18-9 lead on the shot clock.
Second period
(Photo – Keith Hershmiller)
Denomie scored his second of the game getting the Pats to within one at 4:53 of the second. Drew Englot worked the puck free behind the Blade net and got the puck to Connor Bedard to the right of Maier. Bedard showed incredible patience and was able to feed a wide-open Denomie for the one-timer goal.
There was no more scoring in the physically played second frame. The Pats got closer on the shot clock with a 15-10 advantage in the period.
Third period
With 8:48 left Bedard scored the second Pats powerplay goal of the game ripping a shot top shelf blocker side from the right faceoff dot. Bedard’s third of the season pulled the Pats even at 3-3.
Stevenson took a stretch pass and ripped a laser top shelf beating Ross up highs for his second of the game at the 12:35 mark of the third.
Just 14 seconds later Alex Morozoff got behind the Pats defense during a scramble and was able to slide the loose puck past the sprawling goalie to give the Blades a 5-3 lead.
Tristen Robins all but sealed the deal beating Ross top shelf with a powerplay goal at the 15:25 mark.
The shots were even at 6-6 in the final frame with a 34-30 Blades advantage overall.
Just notes
Braxton Whitehead and Colby Wotton drew into the lineup for Jakob Brook (injury) and Easton Armstrong.
The Pats rebounded from a poor powerplay performance in their first game going 2-for-2 with the man advantage. They also killed two of three Blades powerplays.
The Blades’ Stevenson picked up the game’s first star with a four-point performance (2G, 2A). His line-mate, Morozoff was picked as the game’s second star with a three-point performance (1G, 2A). Pats’ forward Denomie garnered third-star honors with a three-point performance himself (2G, 1A) in the loss.
The Pats look to get back on track on Tuesday when they face their Trans Canada highway rival Moose Jaw Warriors.
