BY Jonathan Huntington
SASKATOON – Knock on wood: the Regina Pat Canadians are rolling through the playoffs with precision and efficiency. The statistics show the Pat Cs have won six straight in sweeping their first and second-round opponents. But behind those scores, the story is even more impressive.
- Rest and days-off: the Pat Cs had five complete days of rest between Round 1 & 2. Now heading to the league final, Regina will have at least five more complete days off before their next game. The best-of-five league final must be completed between March 20-28. Regina will open at home, but it’s unclear if that will be March 20th or 21st. The Regina Pats of the WHL play their final regular-season home game on Friday with a potential chance to clinch a playoff spot. It’s unclear if that game will have an impact on the Pat Cs start to the league final. Regardless, Regina will enter the league final with considerable more rest than either the Moose Jaw Winmar Warriors or Saskatoon Blazers – the combatants in the other semi-final.
- The Moose Jaw Winmar Warriors are in the driver’s seat in that semi-final against the Blazers. After dropping Game 1, the Warriors have won back-to-back tight contests. Game 4 is in Saskatoon on Tuesday night – where the Blazers are dominant at Rod Hamm Arena. Here are three intriguing stats heading to Game 4:
- The Blazers have won 11 of their last 13 home games
- The only team to defeat the Blazers during that stretch: Moose Jaw (twice)
- For the Blazers to advance to the league final, they will have to beat the Warriors in consecutive games (Tuesday and Wednesday). The Warriors have not lost back-to-back games all year
FINISH LINES: Maddox Schultz scored his 13th WHL goal of the season on Sunday on his 16th birthday. Schultz now has 27 points in 33 games with one more game of eligibility in the WHL regular season. The WHL Pats have three contests remaining: Tuesday on the road against the first-place Prince Albert Raiders; Friday at home against the Brandon Wheat Kings; Saturday on the road in Brandon… Neat story on Friday night when seven Swift Current Legionnaire alumni were involved in the Saskatoon Blades and Swift Current Broncos WHL game.
