Monster 2nd period lifts Pats over Ice 5-1

The shots were well in their favour, but at the end of the first period, the Pats found themselves trailing the Kootenay Ice 1-0 Wednesday night.

That was until the second period happened.

“We had better chances, I don’t think we necessarily played better. They just went in,” head coach John Paddock said. “You never go wrong with putting the puck on the net.”

And that’s exactly what they did. Shots were a lopsided 13-4 in Regina’s favour in the middle frame and nearly 25 percent of them ended up as goals.

The Pats secured the tying goal, the game-winner and the insurance goal in the span of about two and a half minutes. Assistant captain Jake Leschyshyn was responsible for two of them scoring one minute and 50 seconds apart, adding to a goal from Robbie Holmes moments before.

After a season-ending knee injury in the 2016-17 season, Paddock was happy to see Leschyshyn be rewarded for his hard work.

“Its good to see him get rewarded. This knee stuff, it takes a while to feel comfortable. I thought that last two games he really worked hard. I thought before that he was probably just … caught in the middle and having a bit of a tough time to find his way and probably just having such high expectations of himself. So, to get rewarded tonight and the second goal was a big-time goal,” Paddock said.

The lone goal from Kootenay came from Alec Baer late in the first.

Seventeen-year-old forward Koby Morrisseau scored his first goal of the year in the latter part of the Pats productive second period with an assist from Tanner Sidaway – his second of the night.

Production from the Pats fourth line, like the Pats got out of Morrisseau and Sidaway, is crucial, according to Paddock.

“We had good shifts and good games from them that last two games and we had offence from everybody tonight and we played everybody for the most part,” he said. “We’ve got a long, long season so it’s important we don’t overtax guys.”

The Pats sealed the five-goal night with one off the post courtesy of Dawson Davidson, while goaltender Max Paddock made 22 saves in the effort.

Regina’s back in action at the Brandt Centre Friday night against Red Deer. It is also John Paddock bobblehead night. The game starts at 7 p.m.

THREE STARS

1. Jake Leschyshyn, Regina Pats (2 goals)
2. Robbie Holmes, Regina Pats (1 goal, 1 assist)
3. Tanner Sidaway, Regina Pats (2 assists)