Regina’s best four skaters plus goaltender Drew Sim kept the Pats’ hopes of overcoming the Saskatoon Blades alive with a 5-3 victory Saturday, forcing a seventh and deciding game to be played Monday at SaskTel Centre.

Connor Bedard broke a 3-3 tie at 1:59 of the third period, 55 seconds after the Bridge City Bunch had battled back from a 3-1 deficit in the second period to knot the score. The consensus first overall pick in the upcoming N-H-L Draft, Bedard added three assists on two goals by Russian Alexander Suzdalev and a single by Tanner Howe while defenceman Stanislav Svozil chipped in with three helpers. Sim stopped 27 shots as the Blue and Gold out-shot Regina 30-20. The Blades have out-shot the Pats in every game of the series. Trevor Wong with two and Jayden Wiens, who opened the game’s scoring, replied for Saskatoon. The Pats’ fifth goal was controversial as video review disallowed Zackary Shantz’s marker as being kicked into the Bridge City Bunch net from inside the crease. But, that ruling was reversed a few minutes later after a camera angle not available in the video review booth, from the local cable television broadcast, suggested that Shantz kicking at the puck was inconclusive. Game 7 will face-off at 7 o’clock on Monday at SaskTel Centre with CJWW’s broadcast beginning at 6:45. Following is the official game summary courtesy the W-H-L, the audio highlights from CJWW’s broadcast plus the Post-Game Show interview with Blue and Gold head coach Brennan Sonne…..

Saskatoon Blades 3 at Regina Pats 5 – Status: Final
Saturday, April 8, 2023 – Brandt Centre – Regina, SK

Saskatoon 1 1 1 – 3
Regina 1 2 2 – 5

1st Period-1, Saskatoon, Wiens 4 (Lies, Sidorov), 9:42. 2, Regina, Suzdalev 2 (Bedard, Svozil), 14:53. Penalties-Gustafson Sas (tripping), 12:43; Howe Reg (delay of game), 16:26.

2nd Period-3, Regina, Suzdalev 3 (Bedard, Svozil), 5:04 (PP). 4, Regina, Howe 2 (Bedard, Feist), 12:45. 5, Saskatoon, Wong 1 (Lisowsky, Wright), 17:34. Penalties-Watterodt Sas (high sticking), 3:22; Watterodt Sas (roughing), 18:09.

3rd Period-6, Saskatoon, Wong 2 (Wright), 1:04. 7, Regina, Bedard 11 (Svozil), 1:59. 8, Regina, Shantz 2 (Ginnell, Spencer), 11:24. Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-Saskatoon 6-10-14-30. Regina 10-5-5-20.
Power Play Opportunities-Saskatoon 0 / 1; Regina 1 / 3.
Goalies-Saskatoon, Chadwick (20 shots-15 saves). Regina, Sim (30 shots-27 saves).
A-6,499
Referees-Steve Papp (17), Mark Pearce (5).
Linesmen-Tarrington Wyonzek (137), Ryan Lundquist (106).