If games between the Regina Pats and Moose Jaw Warriors are as close all season as Wednesday night’s Western Hockey League preseason contest, fans are going to be in a for a treat indeed.
The Warriors scored late in the third period to tie the game, but Matt Paranych finished things off quickly in overtime as the Pats took a 3-2 victory at the Brandt Centre in Regina.
Ellis Mieyette scored the first two goals of the game and said after the contest that while the win wasn’t the prettiest, that’s to be expected in the preseason, and the level of compete was where it needed to be.
“It felt good to be back,” said Mieyette, who also drew an assist on the overtime winner. “I think it started off a little slow but we got a couple of power plays and scored on the chances. The team played overall a pretty good game.”
After a scoreless first period, Mieyette got the Pats on the board 1:09 into the second, scoring Regina’s first power play goal in the process.
The man advantage was back at it again with 1:55 to play in the second, and Mieyette struck again to give the Pats a 2-0 lead that looked like it was going to survive the period.
Moose Jaw’s Riley Thorpe had other ideas, though, as he’d find the back of the net with three seconds remaining to make it a one-goal game heading into the third.
There, the score would remain the same until Chase Peterson scored on a redirection in front with 1:55 to play in regulation, sending the contest to overtime.
There, Paranych would find time and space to walk into the high slot before putting home a shot low glove side. The goal came only 34 seconds into the extra frame.
Drake Mooney started in goal for Regina and turned aside 10 shots in 29:56, while Drake Limpert played the remainder of the contest and had nine saves.
Cade Mitchell turned aside 18 shots in 30:37 for Moose Jaw, Dylan Mingo had 19 stops the rest of the way.
Regina is right back in action on Friday night when they travel to Brandon to face the Wheat Kings. Puck drop is 6 p.m. Moose Jaw also returns to the ice Friday when they take on the Raiders in Prince Albert. Game time is 7 p.m.
