Pats shutdown Raiders with incredible 12-2 victory

It was quite the homecoming for the Regina Pats Saturday night.

The team returned to the Brandt Centre for their first game in nearly three weeks and wowed their fans with a dominant 12-2 performance over the Prince Albert Raiders.

Leading the way for the Pats was defenceman Sergey Zborovskiy, who had two goals and five assists in the best game of his young career.

Head coach John Paddock said he didn’t know until after the game that Zborovskiy had amassed seven points, but that his performance didn’t surprise him.

“For us, his plus-minus is an indication of what he does,” Paddock said. “When he’s on his game he’s one of the best defenders in the game, in our league, because of his great reach and hockey read.”

But when 12 goals are scored, he’s not the only player who finds the back of the net. Rykr Cole, Austin Wagner and Captain Adam Brooks also found the back of the net twice, with Riley Woods, Nick Henry, Connor Hobbs and Dawson Leedahl also scoring once.

“Not only did the score kind of dictate how we played, I just thought that everyone bought into the kind of game we’re trying to play today,” said Brooks, adding after a road trip where they perhaps didn’t perform as well as expected they were happy to get back to their scoring ways.

“We wanted to prove to everyone that we’re still a good team and we’re still one of the teams – if not THE team to beat,” Brooks said. “I thought this game kind showed that we’re an elite level hockey team.”

And it wasn’t just the offence that was impressive tonight, the defence was on point as well. In the end the Raiders managed just four more shots on the goal (16), than the Pats scored.

Brooks said the team fed off being back home.

“We wanted to play well and show the fans we were a good team,” Brooks said. “I think anytime you’re at home it’s nice … it’s nice to play in front of the fans.”

ODDS AND ENDS