Damien Ketlo made 45 saves in regulation and overtime and four more in the shootout as his Regina Pats upset the Chilliwack Bruins 3-2 at Prospera Centre Saturday night.
Playing the second game of five games on a tour through the B.C. division road trip, the Eastern division cellar dwelling Pats (6-13-3-1) played an ugly but effective road game through 40 minutes, weathered a storm in the third and got the shootout winner from Colin Reddin.
The visitors scored the only goal in a listless first period, striking on a late power play. With Blair Wentworth (charging) serving the fourth Chilliwack minor penalty of the period, Pats defenceman Ricard Bildestrand finished off a three-way way passing play started by Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Carter Ashton. Ashton passed to Thomas Frazee below the goal-line and Frazee spotted Bildestrand moving down from the point. Frazee's pass was on target, leaving Bildestrand with a yawning cage to shoot at for his second of the year.
Shots on goal in period one favoured the Pats 15-10.
Chilliwack got their legs moving in period two, tying the game just 83 seconds in.
Mike Forsyth did some good work down low, tying up Myles Bell in the left corner long enough for Kevin Sundher to swoop in and grab a loose puck. The Buffalo Sabres third rounder wheeled to the bottom of the faceoff circle and beat Ketlo five-hole for his seventh of the year.
The Pats got that back with another last minute power play goal. With Forsyth serving two minutes for high sticking, Ashton notched his 13th of the season, roofing the puck to finish off a bang-bang play with Frazee. Ashton's strike came with just 32 seconds remaining.
Shots on goal in period two favoured the Pats 21-12.
Chilliwack had the perfect chance to shake off the doldrums early in the final frame when back-to-back minors to Art Bidlevskii (interference) and Brandon Davidson (roughing) put the Pats two men short for 1:40.
Outstanding goaltending by Ketlo kept the Bruins at bay, but Chilliwack came in waves as the period went on.
The native of Fort Fraser, B.C., couldn't stand on his head forever. On another late power play (Davidson for holding), Roman Horak camped out to the left of the Regina net, popping in a loose puck for his 14th of the season, sending the game to overtime.
Ketlo made one more massive save in the extra session, thwarting Steve Oursov on a breakaway to send the game to a shootout.
Through three rounds, the teams remained tied on goals by Sundher and Ashton. In the fourth round, Brandon Magee had the puck roll off his stick, and Colin Reddin won the game with a backhand-forehand top shelf shot.
Three stars were Ketlo (first), Sundher (second) and Chilliwack netminder Lucas Gore (third).
The Bruins are back in action Wednesday night, hosting the Prince George Cougars at Prospera Centre. Puck drop is 7 p.m.
- As one Chilliwack native checks out of the Bruins lineup, another checks in. Defenceman Jesse Pauls is likely done for the season, getting injured during Friday night's win over the Tri-City Americans. Filling his roster spot, Steve Oursov played his first game for the Bruins Saturday night. The ex-Seattle Thunderbird and Red Deer Rebel played forward, with Curt Gogol dropping back to play some shifts on D.