On the strength of a 42 save performance from goaltender Nick McBride and third period goals from Josh Morrissey and Jayden Hart, the Prince Albert Raiders stunned the red-hot Regina Pats 3-1 in Wednesday night WHL action. The Pats were looking for their seventh straight win but were able to get only one puck behind the Raiders starting netminder.

PHOTO CREDIT - ReginaPats.com

Regina - October 24, 2013 - The red-hot Regina Pats (7-6-0-0) sought their seventh consecutive win in a row on Wednesday evening as they welcomed the division leading Prince Albert Raiders (8-5-1-0) to the Brandt Centre.

The Pats enjoyed an early powerplay at 1:39 of the opening frame. They generated seven shots on the man-advantage, but couldn’t find the back of the net.

At 12:27, Pats forward Geordie Maguire was given the gate for hooking. The Raiders’ powerplay was short-lived, though, as Craig Leverton took a checking to the head minor 25 seconds later.

With under five minutes left in the first stanza, Max Kammerer was tripped on a breakaway and was awarded a penalty shot. Raiders goaltender Nick McBride came up big on Kammerer’s chance, and the game remained scoreless until Dylan Busenius cashed in late on the powerplay to give the visitors a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.

“It’s amazing to be back in the league and especially with an organization like this,” goaltender Mac Engel said about making his first start between the pipes for the Blue and White.

“The first period was awesome. I actually felt really good. Everything was going well, you know, there was just that bad bounce on the powerplay for us and they ended up scoring, but it was awesome to get back in there. It was a great feeling.”

Midway through the second period, Pats forwards Carter Hanson and Dyson Stevenson lowered the boom on a pair of Raiders. Boston Leier followed up the physical play, undressing Busenius one-on-one and scoring his ninth goal of the year at the 12:33 mark of the frame. Kammerer picked up the lone helper. At the end of 40 minutes, the Pats dominated on the shot clock 34-10, but the game was tied, 1-1.

The Raiders’ Tomas Andrlik had to sit a pair for interference at 1:22 of the final stanza, but the Blue and White were unable to make good on the man-advantage. While on a two-on-one break, Jayden Hart held onto the puck and put it past Engel to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.

Mike Winther came across the middle and delivered a high hit on the Pats’ Connor Gay just over seven minutes into the period. Winther was assessed a five minute major for checking to the head and was kicked out of the game. The Blue and White’s powerplay was cut short when Maguire sat for his second penalty of the contest. Josh Morrisey made the Blue and White pay, scoring a powerplay goal from Leon Draisaitl and Sawyer Lange at 13:08.

Late in the game, Engel left the net for an extra attacker, but the Pats came up short and ultimately fell to the Raiders, 3-1. The loss snapped the Pats’ six game winning streak.