Pats fans were able to experience an exciting 4-3 shootout victory over the Prince Albert Raiders during Experience Regina Night on Saturday night at the Brandt Centre.
It was a back and forth affair that saw three lead changes over three periods. The Pats had a 3-1 lead before the halfway point of the second period until PA’s Reece Vitelli brought his team to within one goal at 12:44.
In the third, Regina saw their 3-2 lead vanish after sharpshooter Aliaksei Protas found his 14th goal of the season to tie it up 3-3.
Controversy struck with seven minutes to go in regulation after a goal from Ty Kolle was disallowed by officials.
Raiders goaltender Boston Bilous flipped the puck from behind his net before hitting the upper body of Regina captain Austin Pratt. The puck bounced away from Pratt and went towards the goal – requiring a save from Bilous.
However while he was sprawled on the ice trying to find the loose puck, that’s when Kolle picked it up from the crease and roofed it in the top of the cage.
After review this @WHLPats goal does not count. What do you think, was this a goal?
3rd
PA 3 | REG 3 pic.twitter.com/8UbgrSGRww— Access7 Sports (@Access7Sports) November 17, 2019
Upon video review, the referees came to the conclusion that the puck hit Pratt’s glove and not his chest, thus making the decision to take the go-ahead goal off the board.
With no one able to solve the game in overtime, the teams went to a shootout.
Each shooter was stopped by either Bilous or Paddock until Kolle stepped on the ice as Regina’s third and final attempt before extras. After having his second goal of the night get called off by the refs, the 19-year-old forward buried the puck through Bilous’ five hole to put the Pats up 1-0.
Protas was eventually stopped by Max Paddock on Prince Albert’s third try, denying all three shooters to lift the Pats to their third win of the season.
“To finally get rewarded for their effort was a long time coming – they should be proud,” said Pats goaltending coach Rob Muntain in his post-game interview on 620 CKRM.
Paddock matched his jersey number with 33 saves on the night. Bilous stopped 24 pucks in the other cage.
The Pats (3-12-2-0) will have a chance to make it two wins in a row on Tuesday night when they host the Swift Current Broncos at 7:00 p.m. from the Brandt Centre.
It will be a make up game for the two teams after their initial matchup was postponed on November 8 due to a problem with the ice plant at the time.
