Bedard and Pats take OT win over Rockets at sold-out game
(Image credit: Kelowna Rockets)
Connor Bedard was held to one assist as his Regina Pats pulled out a 6-5 win in overtime over the Kelowna Rockets before a sold out crowd at Prospera Place Tuesday.
Bedard, the 17-year-old projected first overall draft pick next year, assisted on the winning goal by Alexander Suzdalev 3:07 into OT before the crowd of 6,407 fans.
Andrew Cristall of the Rockets earned first-star honours after getting four points (2G, 2A) and eight shots on net.
Specialty teams dominated as the teams combined for seven power-play goals, including the Pats game-winner in overtime.
“It was a special teams battle to say the least,” said Rockets head coach Kris Mallette in his postgame interview. “Our power play came through for some real big goals, our penalty kill had a tough go I would say. It was unfortunate that we couldn’t get many five-on-five generated chances.”
Alexander Suzdalev caps off a Pats win in WHOA-vertime with a
sizzler
— The WHL (@TheWHL) November 30, 2022
The Rockets were pleased to hold Bedard, the Western Hockey League’s leading scorer, to just the one assist.
“We played a pretty good job on Connor (Bedard) out there,” said Cristall. “Their other guys stepped up and scored some big goals.”
Kelowna will head out on the road for three games in as many nights this weekend – visiting Spokane on Friday, Tri-City on Saturday and Everett on Sunday.