The Regina Pats resiliency was on display on Saturday night as they forced overtime against the Moose Jaw Warriors. But Brayden Yager scored the decisive goal in overtime to give the Warriors the 4-3 win.
Matteo Michaels led the Pats with a pair of goals.
Regina wasted little time opening the scoring with Corbin Vaughan scoring his second goal of the season, 20 seconds into the first period.
Jagger Firkus tied the game for Moose Jaw, by sneaking a shot over the shoulder of Pats goalie Kelton Pyne.
Early in the second, Connor Schmidt gave the Warriors the lead with a snap shot that fooled Pyne.
Michaels tied the game for Regina with 18 seconds remaining in the second period.
Lynden Lakovic regained the lead for Moose Jaw in the third, but Michaels tied the game once again, this time with three minutes remaining, as Borya Valis found the Pats forward on the doorstep.
During overtime, Yager scored on a breakaway, to give Moose Jaw their third straight win.
Shots were even, 33-33.
Neither team had a powerplay goal with Moose Jaw going 0/3 while Regina was 0/1.
After the game, Assistant Coach Ken Schneider, said the line of Michael, Zane Rowan, and Brayden Barnett had a strong game.
“I thought it was a pretty gritty performance. They have some really great players, and that for the most part, Michels, Barnett and Rowan did a good job on them. We have a lot of faith in those players, and they are playing the style of hockey we know they can play. We’ve gotten leadership from that line and the rest of our group has bought in for the most part.
For the first time this season, Tanner Howe and Tye Spencer were held off the scoring sheet for the Pats.
The Pats will return to action on Wednesday, when they host the Medicine Hat Tigers at the Brandt Centre.
Coverage on 620 CKRM begins at 6:35, opening faceoff is 7:00.
