Pats seek winning formula in showdown with Warriors
It should go without saying that the Regina Pats are sick and tired of losing to the Moose Jaw Warriors.
The question is: What are they going to do about it?
The answer could come Friday when the Pats visit Mosaic Place for the sixth of eight regular-season meetings between the East Division rivals. Moose Jaw has won all five games to date, including a 6-3 decision on Wednesday at the Brandt Centre.
“They’re the top team in the league right now for a reason,” said Pats defenceman Josh Mahura. “Playing on the road is never easy, so we’re definitely going to have to up our game.”
Wednesday’s outcome was the most lopsided so far in the season series. It was also a closer game than the final score might suggest.
“Overall it wasn’t a bad game for us,” said Mahura. “We battled hard. Obviously there were a few mistakes that we need to fix come Friday, but overall, there are some positives we can take from it.”
The Warriors did most of their damage midway through the second period, scoring three times in just 43 seconds to turn a one-goal deficit into a two-goal lead. The Pats threatened to rally back in the third period, but Moose Jaw weathered the storm, ultimately scoring into an empty net with 66 seconds left to seal the victory.
“If you’re a serious team, which we believe we can be, there shouldn’t be a run of goals like that,” said Pats head coach and general manager John Paddock. “You have to play 60 minutes and you have to play in all three areas (of the ice). What might seem like the most innocent play or mistake (can be the difference). You don’t know when a big moment is going to happen.”
Prior to Wednesday’s contest, each of the four games against Moose Jaw was decided by two or fewer goals, including one in overtime.
Unfortunately for Regina, close doesn’t count in hockey.
After so many tight losses, the Pats might be wondering what it takes to beat the WHL’s top team.
However, Paddock doesn’t seem concerned about a cumulative effect on his players.
“I don’t think there’s a mental hurdle at this time,” he said. “Those things can be taken away pretty quickly, as far as momentum.”
In other words, the Pats could put it all behind them with a win on Friday.
“They’re going to come out strong,” said Warriors sniper Jayden Halbgewachs. “They’re going to lay the body maybe a little more, especially in the first period, and try to take us off our game early. They’re going to want to come into our building and take over, but if we stick to our game plan and don’t let them push us around, we’ll be all right.”
Although the Warriors prevailed on Wednesday, head coach Tim Hunter wasn’t exactly pleased with the team’s overall effort.
He expects more from his players in Friday’s rematch.
“They know they can play better,” Hunter said after Wednesday’s contest. “The last game we played was a pretty easy game (beating the Kootenay Ice 6-0). We scored lots of goals, felt good about ourselves, but Regina is a lot better team than Kootenay and they showed it. We’ll have to be a lot more prepared to play harder from the start on Friday.”
After Friday ’s game, the Pats and Warriors conclude a three-game set on Sunday afternoon at the Brandt Centre. That’s followed just six days later by their final meeting of the regular season in Moose Jaw — a game that could help set the tone for a possible playoff encounter down the road.
“They’re going to be high intensity games and (the Pats) are going to come a lot harder next time, for sure,” said Moose Jaw captain Brett Howden, who vows his team will prepare accordingly — regardless of how the season series has gone so far.
“We get excited to play the Pats,” said Halbgewachs. “We love this little rivalry we have here. So this game is easy to get up for.”
Note: Prior to Sunday’s contest, the Pats will retire the No. 15 jersey worn by Regina product Jock Callander, the sixth-leading scorer in franchise history.