Pats showing they have lots of will to win
The Pats came back the very next day.
After shrugging off a 4-0 deficit and defeating the host Saskatoon Blades 7-5 on Friday, the Regina Pats were oh, so close to staging another successful road rally on Saturday.
A complicating factor in the latter game was the presence of the Moose Jaw Warriors, who are ranked first in the WHL and second in the CHL.
Regina spotted Moose Jaw three goals — never a good idea — before scoring twice in a row.
Although a 3-2 loss snapped the Pats’ winning streak at four games, several positives can be derived from their latest meeting with the archrival Warriors.
Pats head coach and general manager John Paddock told the Regina Leader-Post’s Greg Harder after Saturday’s game that the visiting side could have used an additional “push.”
Nonetheless, the grit, determination and resiliency the Pats displayed during two weekend road games was rather impressive.
How often does a team win after trailing 4-0? And what are the chances of that occurring on the road?
Also consider the fact that the Pats prevailed in Saskatoon even though their goalie, Jacob Wasserman, was making his first WHL start.
The Pats’ recent tendency toward multi-goal deficits should be a cause for concern but, as a counterbalance, this is a team that is clearly unfazed by earlygame misfortunes.
This is also a team guaranteed a Memorial Cup berth by virtue of being the host squad for the CHL’s 2018 championship tournament.
As a result, the Pats’ toughest opponents this season — despite the presence of formidable Saskatchewan neighbours such as the Warriors and Swift Current Broncos — are complacency and human nature.
The Pats could suddenly resemble the 1974-75 Kansas
City Scouts — where have you gone, Bart Crashley? — and still end up playing for all the marbles at the end of May.
With a Cup berth assured, the Pats are an interesting study.
Will the effort waver? Will there be an insatiable desire to win until May 17?
The answer, apparently, is yes. After trailing 4-0 in Saskatoon, the Pats could have easily packed it in. Instead, they kept pushing, and ultimately prevailed.
The following evening, the Pats threw a scare into the Warriors despite falling behind 3-0.
The determination of Pats centre Jake Leschyshyn was such that he played the third period while wearing a cage.
The new look was necessitated by a slapshot he took in the face earlier in the game.
Members of the supporting cast also sparkled, even though those opportunities can be scarce on a talented team that includes Leschyshyn, Sam Steel, Josh Mahura, Cameron Hebig, Jesse Gabrielle, Cale Fleury, Libor Hajek, Nick Henry and Matt Bradley.
The Pats’ most impressive skaters for most of the night were Koby Morrisseau, Tanner Sidaway and Robbie Holmes.
Holmes scored in the third period to reduce the Warriors’ lead to 3-2. He converted a nice setup by Morrisseau, who on Friday had notched his third goal of the season.
Sidaway did not register a point on Saturday, but he skated miles at a high speed and extracted the most from every shift.
Ultimately, the collective and commendable efforts of Sidaway, et al, could not prevent the Warriors from improving their league-best record to 45-12-1-2.
As for the Pats, their only point was the one they proved.