Pats take commanding first-round series lead versus Blades

Overtime was needed to decide Game 2 between the Saskatoon Blades and Regina Pats in the first round of the WHL playoffs.

It was a 6-5 victory for the Pats giving them a commanding 2-0 series lead. Regina has now scored six goals in each of the first two games of the series.

“It was an entertaining game if you were here as a fan. (It was) anybody’s game right to the end for sure,” Pats head coach John Paddock said.

Zack Stringer scored his second of the game on a power play after a pass from behind the net by Alexander Suzdalev.

“We’ve played in a lot of 6-5 games this year. I don’t think there’s usually too many of them in the playoffs. There shouldn’t be if both teams are playing like they’re capable of, but that’s the way it went tonight and thankfully we’re on the right end of it,” Paddock added.

After Blades head coach Brennan Sonne issued a call for his team to reach another level, the Blades brought an extra level of grit Sunday.

“I liked our desperation today, I thought our desperation was really good. That’s how we need to play now for the rest of the series. Like Game 1? Woof,” said Sonne, whose team lost the opener 6-1 on Friday.

There may been a bit too much as Regina was again able to take a 1-0 lead — just like it did in Game 1 — after a point shot from Stanislav Svozil on the power play. Then Saskatoon gave up another man advantage, which was not to the liking of Blades forward Trevor Wong; he earned a 10-minute misconduct.

“There was a call or two early where we didn’t agree with it and we got a little derailed, but it was pretty quick to get back on the rails so it was good to focus on what we need to do,” Sonne said about his team’s composure.

The Connor Bedard show was also in full effect on Sunday and he proved why you can’t leave him alone in front of the net as he scored his third of the playoffs after a nice feed from the point by Svozil giving Regina a 2-0 lead.

Saskatoon got on the board by the end of the first after Justin Lies found the back of the net after a nice passing play for his first of the playoffs.

That’s when the floodgates seemed to open as Lukas Hansen was able to tie it up for the Blades early in the second period after a backhand shot from the slot.

Regina wouldn’t take long to regain its lead after another power-play goal, Stringer’s first of the game from right in front of the net.

The back-and-forth affair continued as Josh Pillar fired a bouncing puck past Drew Sim to tie it up once again.

But then hockey’s top prospect made sure to give the Pats the lead once again in a high-scoring second period. Brayden Barnett drew two Blades defenders into the corner and was then able to find a streaking Bedard in the slot to make it 4-3 for the Pats.

That would also mark the end of the night for Blades goaltender Austin Elliott, who gave up his fourth goal of the night and ninth of the playoffs. Ethan Chadwick came in for the remainder of the game, just past the halfway mark.

The Blades came into the third with all of the momentum looking to tie things up and they did just that eight minutes into the final frame.

Jayden Wiens was able to clean up a scramble in front of Sim and lift a loose puck across the goal line to tie it up at four. Then 18 seconds later Vaughn Watterodt gave Saskatoon its first lead of the game after putting a rebound into a wide open cage.

But that lead was shortlived as Bedard completed the hat trick after a shot off the post found his stick. Even though the Pats were on the road, a number of hats did fly over the glass to the displeasure of some of the Blades.

“It’s different, I guess. I only noticed a few on that one side. I wasn’t really focused on that, I was more excited to tie the game up,” said Bedard, who ended with five points on the night.

It may not be a surprise to many to see Bedard fill up the scoresheet even in the playoffs, but he knows the stakes are higher.

“You prepare the same (as the regular season), but it’s a little of a different mindset just with every mistake you make is maybe a little more magnified with obviously with the playoffs. And that’s been our message, being smart with when we make plays and that’s the same for myself,” Bedard said.

After 11 goals on Sunday night, the series will now shift to Regina for Games 3 and 4.

Sonne said there isn’t any panic in the dressing room right now from the way that they’ve played so far, even though they are down in the series.

“Obviously we’re disappointed in the result, but if we can play with that kind of war, then (there’s) nothing to get down about. This is a tighter series than 2-0 right now, I’ll tell you that,” he said.

The Pats aren’t looking at Sunday’s win as a series clincher either.

“There’s lots of hockey to play yet. They didn’t finish with 100-plus points for no reason. They’re a real good, well-coached team so we’ve just got to play it period by period next game and then the next game,” Paddock said.

“For us, there’s still lots of work to do. You’ve got to win four games, not two. The last two are going to be the hardest to win,” Bedard added.

But Paddock and Bedard know the Brandt Centre will be loud being that the team is coming home with a 2-0 series lead.

“It’s going to be my first playoff experience playing at the Brandt. We’re pretty excited for that, but you know we’re focused on what we’ve got to do and how we’re going to play. And obviously the fans always give you an extra kick when you’re playing at home,” Bedard said.

Game 3 will go on Tuesday night at the Brandt Centre with puck drop set for 7 p.m.