Quote:
Pats complete comeback
Greg Harder, The Leader-Post
Published: Saturday, March 01, 2008
The Chilliwack Bruins are pretty good at netting an early lead but -- fortunately for the Regina Pats -- not so adept at holding one.
Regina was rescued from a disastrous start on Friday by Jordan Eberle's five point night -- three goals and two assists -- as the home team overcame a 3-0 deficit to win 5-4 before 5,747 fans at the Brandt Centre.
"What a show he put on tonight," offered Pats centre Tim Kraus, who scored two goals, including the game-winner with 2:41 left on a setup from Eberle. "He's an unbelievable player and he was driven just to get that. After the first (goal) I asked him if that was his 40th and he said 'No, that's coming later tonight.' He didn't back down on his word."
Eberle's 40 goals rank him second in the league. It's the first time a member of the Pats has reached that plateau since Matt Hubbauer potted 48 in 2001-02.
"It's a big achievement but a lot of that goes to my linemates; I wouldn't have 40 without them," he said of Kraus and Michael MacAngus (their unit combined for five goals and six assists on Friday). "You just have those nights some nights where everything you shoot goes in or everything you pass. Our line was clicking and every time we were on the ice we were dangerous."
It didn't start out that way.
The Pats' worst fears were realized in the first period when their hard-luck penalty killing unit gave up three goals in a span of 2:50. Evan Pighin potted two of them and Oscar Moller added the other to chase goaltender Linden Rowat after just seven shots.
Eberle got one back before the opening period was out.
The second frame began inauspiciously when the Pats' handed their fate back to the penalty killers, but the unit responded by erasing a two-man advantage.
Kraus made Chilliwack pay just 14 seconds later when he buried a centering feed from Eberle to make it 3-2.
"I think we definitely lost our confidence when they scored three," added Eberle. "But as soon as we got into the second period and we killed off that 5-on-3 I think we got our confidence right back and things just seemed to click after that."
The Pats tied it up 2:28 into the third period on a great individual effort by Eberle, but the Bruins responded 4:13 later when defenceman Victor Bartley fell at his blueline, creating an odd-man rush that was finished off by Brandon Campos.
Regina tied it up again midway through the third period on another individual effort by Eberle, who picked up the puck out front and outwaited goalie Mark Friesen before burying it into the open net.
Friesen came back with a larcenous glove save on Logan Pyett with 7:15 left, but the Pats wouldn't be denied. With 2:41 left, Eberle fed Kraus in the slot for the game-winner.
It was deja vu all over again for the Bruins, who jumped out to a 3-0 lead on Wednesday in Brandon only to lose 6-3. Chilliwack has lost five straight games on its East Division road swing.
"We couldn't be more frustrated right now," said head coach Jim Hiller. "We're playing some pretty good hockey teams. We've been able to come out and manage leads but then it's our responsibly to play good sound hockey and protect that lead. I don't think we sat back, per se. Regina came (hard), we just couldn't hold them off."
Goaltender Jeff Bosch made just nine saves in relief for the Pats, who outshot Chilliwack 37-17.
Regina is slated to play Game 3 of a five-game homestand on Sunday (6 p.m.) against the Eastern Conference-leading Calgary Hitmen.
EXTRAS: Bruins LW Mark Santorelli was listed as a question mark before the game due to an undisclosed injury. He finished with two assists, tying him for the league lead with 93 points . . . Regina is 5-0 against the B.C. Division this season . . . Pats LW Ryan DePape was a healthy scratch for "performance" reasons, according to head coach Curtis Hunt . . . The Pats held a special pre-game ceremony which featured the raising of a banner adorned by the names of franchise builders Lorne Davis, Graham Tuer and Bob Turner. The Pats also unveiled new jerseys that commemorate their 90th anniversary.
SCOUTING REPORT
CALGARY (44-17-1-3)
at REGINA (39-21-4-2)
Sunday, 6 p.m., Brandt Centre
Radio: 620 CKRM
Key injuries: REGINA -- LW Josh Elder (knee, indefinite); CALGARY -- None to report.
Overview: Tonight's game is the fourth and final meeting between these division leaders. Regina won the first two, by scores of 3-2 and 2-1. Their last encounter was Feb. 19, a 7-1 blowout win by Calgary . . . The Hitmen are No. 1 in the Eastern Conference and ranked sixth in the CHL . . . Calgary has four players with 60-plus points: Ryan White (26-39--65), Kyle Bortis (34-29--63), Brock Nixon (25-38--63) and T.J. Galiardi (16-45--61) . . . Ex-Pats C Ian Duval has a career-high 21 goals and 44 points in 64 games . . . Hitmen captain Karl Alzner (7-26--33) was a teammate of Pats captain Logan Pyett with Canada's gold medal-winning world junior team. Alzner wore the 'C' while Pyett was an alternate . . . The Hitmen will be playing their third road game in three nights. They beat the Moose Jaw Warriors 6-5 in a shootout on Friday and are slated to meet the Brandon Wheat Kings tonight . . . Calgary leads Lethbridge by five points in the Central Division. Regina is four points ahead of Brandon in the East Division, six ahead of the Swift Current Broncos and seven up on Moose Jaw.
© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2008