Pats Outlast Hurricanes 9-8 in Shoot Out

It was a wild and crazy night at the ENMAX Centre Wednesday as the Regina Pats beat the Lethbridge Hurricanes 9-8 in a shoot out.

It was goal after goal after goal all night long in this game. It certainly was not one for the goalies that's for sure. It was the Hurricanes first shoot out loss of the season, dropping their overall record to 40-19-1-1. They've also lost four games in a row for the first time this year. However, the Canes still get a very important point in the battle for first place in the WHL's Eastern Conference.

The game saw its first goal early, 29 seconds into the first period when Lane Zablocki scored for Regina making it 1-0 Pats. That was the first of what would be an 8 goal first period between the teams. Cole Sanford scored twice while Sam Steele and Rykr Cole scored for the Pats in the opening 20 minutes. For Lethbridge Tyler Wong, Ryley Lindgren, and Brady Reagan scored. It was Wong's team-leading 35th of the season. Lindgren scored his 24th and Reagan his 4th. It was 5-3 Regina through 20 minutes of play.

The craziness continued in the second. The Hurricanes got to within one when Colton Kroeker scored his first of three in the game to cut the Regina lead to 5-4. That was his 10th of the season. Austin Wagner though got that one back for the Pats to make it 6-4. Then Tyler Wong scored his second of the game and 36th of the season to cut the lead again to just one, this time 6-5 after 40 minutes of play.

In the third, the Hurricanes came charging back to take the lead for the first time. Brayden Burke tied the game with his 21st of the season making it 6-6 game. After that, Lane Zablocki scored his second of the night to give Regina a 7-6 lead. The Hurricanes then scored two quick goals, both by Colton Kroeker, his 11th and 12th of the season and completing the hatrick in the process. Those two goals gave Lethbridge an 8-7 lead, but before the end of regulation, Zablocki scored his third of the game for Regina to tie the game at 8-8.

That sent the game into overtime, but the extra frame solved nothing. The game would head to a seven round shoot out with Regina getting the winner and skating away with a 9-8 victory. It was one of the wildest games the Hurricanes have been involved in, in a very long time.

The shots were off the charts in this game, favouring the Hurricanes 55-47. Tyler Brown stayed in goal for Regina for all 8 Lethbridge goals, while Stuart Skinner and Jayden Sittler split the duties for Lethbridge. Lethbridge went 1/4 on the power play and the Pats finished the night 2/4.

The Hurricanes next action is a big one as they host Brandon Friday night (Feb. 26). The Canes lead the Wheat Kings by just one point for first place in the Eastern Conference. It'll surely be the marquis match-up in the WHL Friday.

Thanks,
Pat