Pats and Blades series comes down to Game 7 showdown

It’s all down to one game between the Regina Pats and Saskatoon Blades.

With the first round WHL series tied at three games apiece, a Game 7 will take place Monday at Sasktel Centre. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.

“Our family is on the line, our season is on the line so it should be a level of competitiveness, passion, desperation that shows that,” said Blades head coach Brennan Sonne.

The two clubs have had a response whenever the other has appeared to get a stranglehold over the series.

In games one and two of the best-of-seven series, the Pats were able to get two crucial road wins with a 6-1 decision followed by a 6-5 overtime win.

But the Blades answered back with two road wins of their own, both 4-3 overtime wins in Regina.

Saskatoon eventually became the first home team win in the series, earning a 4-2 victory.

But in Game 6, Regina earned a 5-3 decision to push the series to the brink.

A big story in the series has been the play of Pats captain Connor Bedard.

Bedard has 19 points (11 goals, eight assists) in just six game – the most in the WHL playoffs.

“It’s been such a back and forth series, it really does deserve to go to a Game 7,” Bedard said, “I think they are a great team and for us to be playing the way we are with them, that’s how I think it should end – in a Game 7.”

“Both guys want it really bad. Both teams are going to be out there giving it their all and playing as hard as they can … I think both teams are going to be desperate.”

While Bedard has led the way for the Pats, the Blades have been getting offence from throughout their lineup. Egor Sidorov and Trevor Wong lead the way with eight points each.

Pats goaltender Drew Sim has faced a bevy of shots so far – 212 shots over six games, giving up 3.37 goals per game.

For the Blades, the team had turned to Austin Elliot for game one but turned to Ethan Chadwick midway through game two. Elliot had given up four goals on 13 shots in that game.
Since then, Chadwick has been given the nod in every game, sporting a 3.23 goals against average.

“Our focus is us. We’ve now played this team nine times in the last however many weeks. We know each other well,” Sonne said. “We know what they are bringing, they know what we are bringing.”

Sonne said he believes they can win if they put a full game together as a team.

“Is anyone super comfortable in a Game 7? At the end of the day what we can control is our 60 minutes of passion,” Sonne said. “I want 60 minutes of Blades hockey and we’re good. If we do that, we are fine.”

If the Pats can pull off the victory, they will take on the Winnipeg Ice in the next round – the top team in the WHL.

If Saskatoon wins, they will take on the second-seeded Red Deer Rebels.