Big test For pats in series against warriors
Triple-header against top-tier opponent will reveal a lot about Regina’s mettle
On paper, the Regina Pats have one of the best lineups in the WHL.
On the ice, their performance tends to mirror a given opponent.
That seemed to be the case over the weekend as Regina sent mixed messages with a 1-1-0-1 record against three middle-of-the-pack teams: The Kootenay Ice, Lethbridge Hurricanes and Saskatoon Blades.
The Pats will face a much bigger test this week — perhaps their biggest of the season — with a rare stretch of three consecutive games against the same opponent. That team is the league-leading Moose Jaw Warriors, who will meet the Pats on Wednesday at the Brandt Centre, Friday at Mosaic Place and back in Regina on Sunday afternoon.
“Teams usually rise to that occasion,” said head coach/GM John Paddock. “It doesn’t mean you’re going to win necessarily but your level of play picks up. I think our level of play will automatically pick up. That’s not really what I’m thinking about.”
Paddock is more concerned about the need for his team to consistently take its game to another level — individually and collectively.
That’s the case regardless of their opponent.
“We improved our team quite a bit,” said Paddock, who overhauled his lineup prior to the Jan. 10 trade deadline. “We have a lot better players but I’m still waiting for more. We need to get them to understand that there’s more to give and do. Then we’ll start to see how far we can carry that.”
There were positive signs on Tuesday when Regina posted a 5-2 road win over the Brandon Wheat Kings. That was followed by a step back on Friday against the Ice, which skated to a 4-2 win at the Brandt Centre.
The Pats responded 24 hours later with a 4-2 decision over the Lethbridge Hurricanes — a game that still didn’t inspire Paddock’s confidence — before playing their third game in three days on Sunday afternoon in Saskatoon. They dropped a 2-1 shootout decision to the Blades, who prevailed on the strength of a spectacular performance by rookie goaltender Nolan Maier.
“I thought we left a lot on the table (against Kootenay),” said Paddock.
“We left a lot on the table in the first period (versus the Blades) for sure. Then we got closer to matching their desperation. The next game is relatively soon. There needs to be a quick evaluation of themselves (by the players) and understand that they can be better.”
That’s especially crucial as they prepare to face the archrival Warriors, who are ranked No. 2 in the CHL. Moose Jaw has won all four meetings between the teams so far this season.
“It’s going to be a challenge for sure,” continued Paddock. “We’re going to need everybody on top of their games. (The Warriors) haven’t allowed a goal the last two games. They’re a good team. They’re so much like us last year. That probably helps us a little bit but you have to go out and play the games and see how it shakes out.”
Moose Jaw (42-9-1-2) has indeed drawn comparisons to last year’s Pats, who were the WHL’s most dominant team in the regular season (52-12-7-1) and went on to reach the league final before losing in six games to the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Along the way, the Pats learned some lessons about playoff hockey that they hope to apply this season.
“There’s a lot of stuff you could get by with in the regular season,” said Paddock. “You can win on talent or win on the schedule being better and stuff. That’s understandable because it’s a long grind. But when you get significant teams like Moose Jaw or you get into the playoffs ... it has to be simpler, it has to be better, it has to be harder. You have to take care of yourself (health- and rest-wise). That’s where all those things come in now. We’ve been telling our guys, hoping for them to realize that.
“Our situation is what it is, but I also believe there’s quite a bit more of a ceiling for us to get to than we’ve shown.”
We have a lot better players but I’m still waiting for more. We need to get them to understand that there’s more to give and do.