If you liked the sold-out crowds and the split results between the Big-City Saskatchewan rivals, get ready for Saskatoon and Regina to battle in a best-of-seven opening round W-H-L playoff series after the Blades edged the Pats 3-2 Friday night.

Trevor Wong (pictured) banked his own rebound from below the goal-line off Regina goaltender Drew Sim for the winning goal with 8:50 left in the third period, insuring that the Pats would finish in sixth place in the Eastern Conference and would play the third seeded Bridge City Bunch. Brandon Lisowsky staked the Blue and Gold to a 2-0 lead after two periods – one of his goals coming on the power play and the other goal he kicked into the Regina net, but from outside the crease which is legal to do in the W-H-L. However, Regina battled back to draw even on a short-handed tally from Tanner Howe and an even-strength marker from Sam Oremba, setting the stage for Wong’s 25th goal of the season and second game winner before a second consecutive sold-out crowd of 14,768. The Blades held W-H-L scoring leader Connor Bedard off the scoresheet for a second time in less than three weeks and for just the fifth time overall this season. Saskatoon will close out the regular-season Saturday in Swift Current while the Pats are home to Prince Albert. Then, the 47-15-5 Bridge City Bunch will open a best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarter-final against the 34-29-4 Regiment on Friday, March 31 at SaskTel Centre. Friday night’s 3-2 Blue and Gold win finished the season series in a 4-2 advantage for the Blades. Following is the official game summary courtesy the W-H-L, the audio highlights from CJWW’s broadcast plus Post-Game Show interviews with head coach Brennan Sonne, Wong and Saskatoon captain Aidan De La Gorgendiere…..

Regina Pats 2 at Saskatoon Blades 3 – Status: Final
Friday, March 24, 2023 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK

Regina 0 0 2 – 2
Saskatoon 1 1 1 – 3

1st Period-1, Saskatoon, Lisowsky 36 (Roulette, Gustafson), 17:53. Penalties-No Penalties

2nd Period-2, Saskatoon, Lisowsky 37 (Wong, De La Gorgendiere), 5:19 (PP). Penalties-Quiring Reg (cross checking), 5:03; Wong Sas (tripping), 15:07; Suzdalev Reg (tripping), 19:04.

3rd Period-3, Regina, Howe 35 (Stringer), 0:40 (SH). 4, Regina, Oremba 10 (Rowan), 8:42. 5, Saskatoon, Wong 25 (Hansen, De La Gorgendiere), 11:10. Penalties-Berge Reg (tripping), 4:19; Gustafson Sas (cross checking), 14:43.

Shots on Goal-Regina 7-8-9-24. Saskatoon 10-10-11-31.
Power Play Opportunities-Regina 0 / 2; Saskatoon 1 / 3.
Goalies-Regina, Sim 27-17-2-0 (31 shots-28 saves). Saskatoon, Elliott 25-6-3-0 (24 shots-22 saves).
A-14,768
Referees-Mike Langin (67), Kyle Kowalski (15).
Linesmen-Levi Schutz (110), Devan Thiessen (94).