‘We didn’t really respond:’ Pats lose 4-1 to Lethbridge

The game the Pats played Tuesday night did not go according to the head coach’s plan.

First of all, the Pats lost to the Hurricanes 4-1.

But John Paddock said what was more worrisome to him was the players didn’t execute the any of things the coaching staff talked to them about.

“There’s nothing wrong with losing hockey games when you play well or you play right,” Paddock said post-game. “There were some obvious things tonight that we talked about that we didn’t do and that’s really bothersome.”

It also didn’t help that the Hurricanes got up on the Pats early.

Matt Alfano got one past goaltender Tyler Brown at the four-minute mark of the first period.

Then a bad pass from Connor Hobbs off the boards put the puck on the stick of Tyler Wong, who scored a shorthanded goal for the Hurricanes.

The Pats would go into the second intermission down 2-0. The second period didn’t start off much better for Regina, with Wong finding the back of the net again just 38 seconds into the second frame.

From then on the Pats were simply chasing to try to get back in it.

“They played good and we didn’t really respond at all,” Paddock said.

“You just can’t make plain, bad mistakes on the three goals.”

With three minutes remaining in the second period, the Pats finally had a break through. Dawson Leedahl stayed on a rebound, pushing it past Stuart Skinner for the first Pats goal of the night.

Despite have 11 more shots on goal than the Hurricanes, the Pats went into the second intermission down 3-1.

The Pats pushed through the third period with a lot of good chances, all blocked by Stuart Skinner.

Brown was pulled with two minutes left in the period, but the Pats couldn’t capitalize with the extra attacker.

“Just don’t know if it’s a mental thing or what but sometimes we just come out really flat and we try to turn it on at the end of the game and you can’t do that,” said captain Adam Brooks.  

The game ended 4-1 after Jordy Bellerive scored an empty netter.

The Pats are back in action on Friday at the Brandt Centre against the Medicine Hat Tigers.

Puck drop is at 7 p.m.

THREE STARS

1. Stuart Skinner
2. Tyler Wong
3. Dawson Leedahl