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Rebels Edge Tigers 6-5

December 1, 2012 - Western Hockey League (WHL) - Red Deer Rebels News Release


FIRST PERIOD



Not many scoring chances early on for either team, but not many whistles either as the opening ten minutes went by rather quickly.

After Mathew Dumba narrowly missed the net with a one timer, it would be another Rebels blueliner opening the scoring in this game. Brandon Underwood threw what can best be described as a "knuckleball" on net and beat Tigers goalie Cam Lanigan for his second goal of the season. The unassisted goal made it 1-0 Rebels 14:15 into the 1st period.



The Rebels would double their lead just 1:42 later. Some solid forechecking deep in the offensive zone led to Cory Millette gaining control of the puck. He outwaited Lanigan before sliding a pretty pass over to Conner Bleackley who fired home his sixth goal of the season, his fourth goal in his past five games. Rhyse Dieno also assisted on the goal which came at the 15:57 mark. 2-0 Rebels after one period of play. Shots on goal were 13-10 in favour of the Medicine Hat Tigers.



SECOND PERIOD



The Tigers would cut their deficit in half early in the second period. Hunter Shinkaruk showed very little rust while blazing into Rebels territory down the right wing side. His pass out front landed on the stick of Curtis Valk who would score his team leading 17th goal of the season. Lanigan also picked up an assist on the goal. 2-1 Rebels 3:34 into the period.



As the midway point of the frame passed, the Rebels restored their two goal lead. Rhyse Dieno made a fantastic pass over to Cory Millette. He in turn beat Lanigan low in his blocker side to make it a 3-1 game. Millette's seventh goal of the season, on which Kayle Doetzel also earned an assist, came at 10:24.



Medicine Hat would mount a comeback before the period would expire. Dylan Busenius would be the beneficiary of a Shinkaruk pass to score his third goal of the season. His shot through traffic eluded Patrik Bartosak at the 15:45 mark to make it a 3-2 game. Valk also with an assist on the goal.



The Tigers put the game back on even terms at 18:09 thanks to Valk's second goal of the game from Spenser Jensen and Elgin Pearce. 3-3 through two periods of play. Red Deer outshot Medicine Hat 12-10 in the middle frame.



THIRD PERIOD



The Rebels wasted very little time in restoring their two goal lead. Brooks Maxwell and Rhyse Dieno joined forces to make a great play down low in the Tigers zone. The puck would come out to a wide open Turner Elson, the captain fired home his eighth goal of the season just 35 seconds into the stanza.



Then, just 34 seconds later, Wyatt Johnson would fire from just inside the Tigers blue line. Lanigan got a piece of the shot but not enough to keep it out of the Tigers net. Johnson's fourth goal of the year, from Bleackley and Fleury, made it 5-3 Rebels. That would be it for Lanigan as he made way for Marek Langhamer to take over between the pipes for Medicine Hat.



But the Tigers would continue clawing back. Trevor Cox would put home a rebound after Boston Leier was denied on a wraparound opportunity. 5-4 Rebels lead at the 7:18 mark.



For the third time in this game, the Rebels would take a two goal lead. This time it was Brooks Maxwell doing the scoring. He went top shelf, short side on Langhamer for just his second goal of the season. Elson and Underwood collected the assists on the goal which came at the 16:57 mark. 6-4 Rebels at that point.



Then, after Bartosak shut the door on the Tigers numerous times, Elgin Pearce put home his tenth of the season from Shinkaruk and Valk. 6-5 Rebels with 31 seconds left in the third period.



The Rebels would kill off the remaining seconds and hang on for a thrilling one goal victory, their sixth straight win overall and their 8th straight win at home. Final shots on goal 41-31 favouring the Tigers.



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