Regina Pats still confident despite falling behind 2-0 to Red Deer

It will be business as usual for the Regina Pats Tuesday night when they take the ice for game three against the Red Deer Rebels.

The Pats have fallen behind in their second-round playoff match up, having given up the lead in both games in Red Deer this weekend.

“I don’t think we’re out of the series at all,” said forward Cole Sanford. “We’ve played two pretty good games out there. “

In fact, the Pats couldn’t have asked for a better start to game one. The team scored early and went up 2-0 after the first period, but it was a lead they couldn’t hold. The Rebels stormed back and beat the blue and white 3-2.

“I think the first one we were up two nothing and penalty trouble cost us. But in saying that, we played some good hockey. In the playoffs you got to move on,” Sanford said.

In game two, the Pats’ greatest success came on the power play – the source of all three of the team’s goals, but they eventually fell 4-3 to the Rebels.

It’s little “brain farts” that are costing the team, according to team captain Colby Williams, but it’s nothing he doesn’t think can be remedied.

“Our biggest thing is consistency through the whole game,” Williams said.

“Our power play has been really hot, and I think we can beat these guys.”

It hasn’t happened yet, but that doesn’t mean the team is going to change how they play. Head coach John Paddock says the Rebels have a big defence and they deserve credit for it, but his team is right in it with them.

“We have a couple little things, but really, we’re not unhappy with the way we’ve played at all,” he said on Monday.

“We’re just going to play the same way and hopefully get a little more success.”

The Pats play two games at the Brandt Centre on Tuesday and Wednesday night.