The Regina Pats knocked off the first place Brandon Wheat Kings 5-1 Sunday night, moving to within eight points of the Wheaties for top spot in the WHL's East Division. The Pats could still make a run for first place, with three games remaining against Brandon.
Brett Leffler, one game after being a healthy scratch, led the Pats with a goal and a couple of helpers. Amazingly, Leffler was not selected as one of the three stars by the learned media member making the selections. Go figure.
Now, the Pats take their show on the road for three games this week before returning to the Brandt Centre next Sunday to take on Moose Jaw. Suffice to say it's a big week in Pat-land. Let's hope the boys are up to the task.
10 comments:
The boys responded well after a poor outing on Friday. Sadly had they played better against Calgary they might have found themselves 6 points behind with 3 head to head games. 1st place would be nice but the final bit of the schedule is not going to be kind to them.
The road to the conference final likely goes through Medicine Hat. You have to beat the best if you want to be considered the best. A couple of wins in Alberta would send some vibes around the league.
The most important thing for the team is to play solid hockey the rest of the way. They want to go into the playoffs as a solid team playing tough playoff style hockey. Let the chips fall where they may with regards to the standings. The thing is they have played better against Brandon than any other team in the Division. They wont play Brandon unless they finish fourth.Playing either PA or Swift in the first round wll be exceedingly tough. They just have to play real strong down the stretch and hope for the best.
In the paper today Justin Scott is talking about sending Brandon home with their tails tucked between their legs. Statements like that have a way of coming back and biting you in the butt. Derlago said quite correctly, two of the wins have come in the shootout. The record is not as impressive as it seems and there are three more games with them. The weekend was actually a bust becasue they didn't close any ground by losing on Friday.
The Pats have been putrid in Alberta so its time to show what they're made of. I am hoping for the best but stiil don't believe the Pats are ready for prime time just yet.
Their horrible road recod is the reason they are chasing right now. Just think; one extra win on the west trip, just one win on each of their last Alberta trips, and a split with Saskatoon on the two loss weekend!! the Pats would be in first place. How important is winning a few more games on the road.
Absolutely, if the Pats didn't underachieve the entire first half, they could be the hunted - rather than the hunter.
Still, no point looking in the rear-view mirror. The Pats need to pick up some wins in Alberta, just to prove to themselves they can do it - if they advance past the first round of the playoffs.
And trash-talking a team you still trail by eight points? Probably not wise.
No question this week is going to go a long way in determining where the Pats will end up. Nothing less than a couple of road wins will do. If they lose two outa three or all three, they will be in a dogfight for both the playoffs and positioning.
Hey Pete,
The Pats are on a roll no doubt, but there is no way they finish second, and there is absolutely no waaaaay they will advance from round one of the play-offs!!!
So who's gonna pass them for second, Swift Current or P.A? Neither team is doing much of anything right now.
I like the Pats chances in the first round, considering they'll be playing one of those two teams. After that, they'll likely face Medicine Hat or Kootenay. Optimistic? Not so much.
Hey Pete,
Well I just think there is not enough there for them to go past round one.
Tell ya what, if they play 50% over the next 2 weeks, I might change my tune. Alberta is very important.
Previous poster - I assume you are basing your belief on the fact that only one of Parkers teams have ever gone past one round of the playoffs, and were out in the seconed. In that case you have a point.
This years division is too close to call. When everything is counted there will be little difference between 2nd and 5th. Brandon will win 1st and they deserve to because they have been the overall best of a really weak division.
Playoff hockey is altogether different than regular season. Brandon, PA and Swift all have veteran tenders and that might be where the Pats could lose out. Rowat will have to play like a veteran. PA scares me because Deckert can steal games and they are tough to play in PA.
I have no idea how the final standings will play out or how the playoffs will go but my knowledge of Jr hockey is;
Playoff hockey is different.
The best teams usually prevail.
Goaltending wins championships.
Upsets happen every year.
Strange things happen in hockey.
Everything aside I dont think anybody is going to get past the Tigers. MJ got lucky and Perricone got hot last year. It was a fluke and likely wont happen again. The Pats overall this year have disappointed, the rebuild plan failed, a lot of movement, barely over .500 with a month to go. NOT IMPRESSIVE. The only way to salvage the season is to go deep into the playoffs but like I said at the beginning. They have only done it once in 11 years. I know what the oddsmakers would say!
So, playing Devil's Advocate, what if Rowat gets hot and Medicine Hat gets hit with injuries or some other misfortune. Could the Pats slip past the Hat in a second round matchup?
If everything you say occurs, then anything is possible. However when Helm and Russell were gone, they hardly missed a beat.
The Hardest round is the first one..its the one that really scares me.
It is particularly concerning considering the Pats history in the last 11 years, including the MemCup year.
Consider this, how far would the guys go if Kyle Ross or Rowat got hurt? Could Tommy T carry the mail?
The playoffs will bring some surprises I am sure...and yes anything can happen if..................
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