Penalty-Prone Rebels Flirt with Disaster, But Get Last-Minute Winner from Hagel
November 24, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release
CRANBROOK - The Red Deer Rebels were playing with fire Friday night at Western Financial Place, but in the end had just enough firepower of their own to melt the Kootenay Ice.
On a night the visitors were assessed six consecutive penalties - three in each of the first and second periods - they surrendered just one power-play goal and managed to pull out a 3-2 WHL victory on Brandon Hagel's last-minute marker.
Despite snaring two points in yet another nail-biter versus the Ice - who are 0-4 versus the Rebels this year with three one-goal setbacks - Red Deer GM/head coach Brent Sutter didn't like his club's style of play through much of the contest, viewed by 2,103 fans.
"Our overall game started getting away from us in the first period. We took too many penalties, six in a row, and the game was only half done," said Sutter.
But the Rebels erased five of the infractions, thanks in part to another stellar performance from netminder Ethan Anders.
"Andy was good and our penalty killers did a good job, but what happens with that is it takes momentum away from you," said Sutter. "Some guys play and some don't. Certain guys kill penalties and they play too much and you lose momentum to the other team."
While the Ice enjoyed a half dozen man advantages, the Rebels were one-for-two on the power play, cashing in on their first at 9:04 of the opening period.
With Jakin Smallwood off for slashing, Rebels defenceman Dawson Barteaux moved down into the right circle and beat netminder Jesse Makaj with a high shot to the short side.
Jeff de Wit made it 2-0 five minutes later, converting a rebound of a shot by Reese Johnson, before former Rebels forward Cam Hausinger got the Ice on the board with a power-play redirection at 15:07 of the first.
Following a scoreless second period in which Red Deer held an 8-7 edge in shots, Hausinger pulled the Ice even at 5:46 of the third frame, burying a centering pass from Holden Kodak.
"We started doing things we can't do, turning pucks over in the neutral zone. We were playing too cute and started making mistakes," said Sutter.
"Then we got our game back in the last 10 minutes of the third and started playing well again."
Indeed, the Rebels spent more than their share of time in the Kootenay zone down the stretch and it paid off when Hagel, from the left circle, fired home a cross-ice feed from Johnson with 50 seconds remaining.
Hagel, who dropped Martin Bodak in an early third-period scrap, also picked up an assist while linemate Johnson had a pair of helpers, as did defenceman Alex Alexeyev.
"The big line (including de Wit) obviously contributed and we have to get more offence from some other guys, but they have to do it without cheating," said Sutter.
"You have to generate chances by playing the right way. If not you turn pucks over and spend too much time in your own zone."
The Rebels improved to a Central Division best 16-5-1-0 and have a one-point lead over the second-place Edmonton Oil Kings, who have played four more games.
But this one nearly got away.
"It wasn't even frustration tonight like it was the last time with these guys (Ice)," said Sutter, in reference to last Saturday's 5-4 overtime conquest of Kootenay. "We just made too many mental mistakes.
"I'm not trying to be negative, I just don't want us to play that way. We have to be smarter than that."
Anders made 27 saves while posting his 14th win of the season. Makaj stopped 26 shots for the Ice.
The Rebels return to action Saturday when they host the Medicine Hat Tigers at the Centrium.
Western Hockey League Stories from November 24, 2018
- Raiders Set New Franchise Mark By Beating ICE - Prince Albert Raiders
- T-Birds Battle But Fall to Winterhawks - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Cam Hausinger Named November's Community Leader of the Month Presented by East Kootenay Community Credit Union - Kootenay Ice
- ICE Welcome CHL's Top Team on Saturday Night - Kootenay Ice
- Preview: Blades Begin Road Trip in Prince George - Saskatoon Blades
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Saturday, November 24 at Tri-City - Calgary Hitmen
- Game 26 at Red Deer - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Winterhawks Game Day Preview: Portland vs. Seattle - Game #24 - Portland Winterhawks
- Americans Penalty Kill Struggles in 5-1 Loss to Blazers - Tri-City Americans
- Tigers Come up Short in 7-3 Fall to Raiders - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Hitmen Take out T-Birds - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Rockets Edge Victoria for Third Straight - Kelowna Rockets
- Hitmen Win at Seattle - Calgary Hitmen
- Rebels Score Late to Edge ICE 3-2 - Kootenay Ice
- Royals Stifled by Rockets - Victoria Royals
- Hurricanes Double up Wheat Kings - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Penalty-Prone Rebels Flirt with Disaster, But Get Last-Minute Winner from Hagel - Red Deer Rebels
- Pats Head Home with a Loss - Regina Pats
- Leason, Raiders Tie Records In Win Over Tigers - Prince Albert Raiders
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