Regina Pats clinch playoff spot with 10th straight win

The Pats had a lot more than just a win to celebrate Friday night in Edmonton. 

Regina did blow past the Oil Kings 5-2, but they also became the first team in the entire CHL to clinch a spot in the playoffs.

It was also the Pats tenth win in a row.

Edmonton started the scoring six minutes into the first intermission with a goal from Nick Bowman, but the Pats battled back with Wyatt Sloboshan about seven minutes later. Filip Ahl added a goal less than two minutes later to put the Pats up 2-1 heading into the first intermission.

Dawson Davidson netted his fifth goal of the season the start off the second period scoring with assists from first period scorers Sloboshan and Ahl.

Edmonton’s Connor McDonald responded with a goal of his own near the end of the period, leaving the Pats up by one heading into the third.

But the Pats left no doubt in the third, with Nick Henry scoring the insurance goal and his 26th of the season at 7:19 in the period. Connor Hobbs sealed the deal on the powerplay with his 24th of the year with assists from Sam Steel and Chase Harrison.

The Pats have one more game left on their three-game Alberta road trip. They’ll match up against the Red Deer Rebels Saturday night before returning to Regina for a Valentine’s Day game against the Everett Silvertips.

As the season comes to a close in a matter of weeks the Pats are in a good place to secure their division, and could certainly lock up the top spot in the WHL. Regina has 20 games left on the schedule and need 19 points to win their division, or any combination of 9.5 wins or Moose Jaw losses.

If the Pats get 26 points, or 13 wins, that would secure first place in the WHL.

NOTES

·  Friday night’s stars: Wyatt Sloboshan and Dawson Davidson of the Pats and Davis Murray of Edmonton.

·  Nick Henry has scored in five consecutive games.

·  Connor Hobbs scored his eighth powerplay goal of the season.

·  Sam Steel is three points away from a 100 point season.