Regina Pats superstar Connor Bedard wasn’t ready for his junior hockey career to end on Saturday night, as he scored the game-winning goal and also picked up three assists in a 5-3 win over the visiting Saskatoon Blades in Game 6 of a WHL first-round playoff series.
Regina’s win before a sellout crowd of 6,499 forces a pivotal Game 7 between the Saskatchewan rivals in Saskatoon on Monday.
Bedard had the primary assist on the Pats’ first three goals of the game, including two from Alexander Suzdalev.
And then, with the game tied at 3-3 and his team’s season on the line, Bedard once again showed he’s not afraid of the big moment.
Bedard took a long feed from defenceman Stanislav Svozil as the Blades were changing, then broke in alone on Blades goaltender Ethan Chadwick and wired one by him short side to put the Pats back on top.
The 17-year-old’s four points brought his playoff total to 19 points (11 G, 8 A) in six games. Only six of Regina’s 25 goals in the series have not featured a point by Bedard.
Bedard is projected to be the first overall pick in this year’s NHL Draft. He put on a show for the Pats faithful in what likely will be his final home game should Regina lose on Monday.
The home team has won the past two games after the road team emerged victorious in the first four.
The third-seeded Blades finished 29 points ahead of the sixth-seeded Pats in the regular season.
BEDARD’S PLAYOFF TOTALS: 6 GP, 11 G, 8 A, 19 Pts.
BEDARD’S REGULAR SEASON TOTALS: 57 GP, 71 G, 72 A, 143 Pts.
PATS’ RECORD: Regina and Saskatoon are tied 3-3 in the best-of-seven series.
UP NEXT: Game 7 is Monday at 9 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CST in Saskatoon.
With Bedard the top-ranked prospect for the 2023 NHL Draft, here’s a look at the current lottery odds. There will be two lottery draws where the top two picks are up for grabs.
The percentages below indicate the chances of a team winning the first lottery when the top pick is in play. However, teams can move up a maximum of 10 spots in order, so if a team outside of the bottom 11 wins the first draw, it won’t get the first overall pick. Therefore, while the 32nd-ranked team has an 18.5 per cent to win the first lottery, it still has a 25.5 per cent chance to pick first overall.
The NHL Draft Lottery will be held on May 8 and the results will be revealed live on Sportsnet and SN NOW.
TEAM | RECORD | PTS | PTS% | FIRST LOTTERY ODDS |
Anaheim | 23-47-12 | 58 | .353 | 18.5% (25.5% at getting first pick) |
Columbus | 25-48-9 | 59 | .360 | 13.5% |
Chicago | 26-49-7 | 59 | .360 | 11.5% |
San Jose | 22-44-16 | 60 | .366 | 9.5% |
Montreal | 31-45-6 | 68 | .415 | 8.5% |
Arizona | 28-40-14 | 70 | .427 | 7.5% |
Philadelphia | 31-38-13 | 75 | .457 | 6.5% |
Washington | 35-37-10 | 80 | .488 | 6% |
Detroit | 35-37-10 | 80 | .488 | 5% |
St. Louis | 37-38-7 | 81 | .494 | 3.5% |
Vancouver | 38-37-7 | 83 | .506 | 3% |
*Ottawa | 39-35-8 | 86 | .524 | 2.5% |
*Buffalo | 42-33-7 | 91 | .555 | 2% |
*Pittsburgh | 40-31-11 | 91 | .555 | 1.5% |
*Nashville | 42-32-8 | 92 | .561 | 0.5% |
*Calgary | 38-27-17 | 93 | .567 | 0.5% |
* denotes a team outside of the bottom 11 that can’t get the first overall pick in the lottery
• Florida’s unprotected first-round pick belongs to the Montreal Canadiens
• Standings as of games ending April 8