Every game
is important for the Pats if they hope to make the postseason. With the team
six points out of eighth place in the Conference, and only 13 games left to
play (after tonight's contest in Swift Current) the points are going to start
running out for the Queen City Kids.
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| Carson Haynes played in his 150th career WHL game on Saturday. - Keith Hershmiller Photography |
Unfortunately, for the Pats, the wheels came off in the second period and they just did not have any pushback in the latter stages of the game as they fell 6-2 on Saturday night.
In the
return matchup in Speedy Creek on Saturday, both clubs returned to the rink
with the same goalies that got the nod on Friday. Despite allowing four goals
on just 12 shots, the Pats went back to Ewan Huet between the
pipes. Reid Dyck got the start for the hometown Broncos.
Not the
start the Pats were hoping for as the Broncos were able to get the first marker
just 16 seconds into the contest. Luke Mistelbacher fired home a
one-timer from the slot on Swift Current’s first shot of the game. Zach
Moore fired home his sixth of the season from the top of the right circle to
even the contest at 1-1, less than four minutes later. With the Pats on a
powerplay, the Broncos broke in on an odd-man rush and Connor Hvidston
made the Pats pay as he outmaneuvered Huet and tucked home a shorthanded marker
to give the Broncos their second one-goal lead of the game at 2-1. Less than 30
seconds later, hometown product Anthony Wilson converted the powerplay opportunity
when he received a Zackary Shantz pass in the slot and fired it home to
tie the game up at 2-2. As the teams headed into the first intermission the
Broncos had a 12-8 advantage on the shot clock.
Ty
Coupland restored the Broncos’ lead when he was able to get enough of the
puck on a broken stick one-timer. The powerplay marker gave the Broncos a 3-2
lead early in the second period. Midway through the middle stanza the Broncos
were outshooting the Pats 14-3. Mathew Ward scored twice within one minute when
he deflected a wide shot past Huet and on his second goal he was able to chip a
shot past a down and out Huet giving the Broncos a three-goal lead heading into
the second break. The Broncos dominated the shots on goal as they outshot the
Pats 22-7 in the middle twenty.
Much of the
play in the third period went to the Broncos as they outshot the Pats 12-6 and Connor
Gabriel added a sixth Bronco goal to give Swift Current a 6-2 win.
Goalie Battle
Huet stopped 29 of 34 before he was pulled after 40 minutes. Kelton Pyne came in for the third period and stopped 11 of the 12 shots he faced in relief. Dyck on the other hand made 19 saves in the Bronco win.
Special Teams
Both teams notched powerplay markers as both teams went 1/4 with the man advantage. The Broncos also sniped while down a man.
Whitehead keeps streaking
Braxton Whitehead picked up an assist to extend his point streak to five contests where he has seven points (1G-6A). He has 13 points (2G-11A) in his last 12 games.
Up next
The Pats play their last home game until March 15th on Monday, February 19th when they host a Family Day Matinee against the visiting Calgary Hitmen with a 2:00 p.m. puck drop at the ‘Dome.
