Rebels Come up Just Short against Raiders Despite Carrying Play in Third Period
October 14, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release
PRINCE ALBERT - Exactly one week after pulling out a 4-3 win despite being outplayed and outshot by the visiting Prince Albert Raiders, the Red Deer Rebels dropped a 2-1 decision to the same team Saturday while carrying at least their share of the play.
The Rebels, in fact, were the better team down the stretch - outshooting their hosts 12-5 over the final 20 minutes - but gave up a third-period goal and couldn't find the equalizer despite applying some decent pressure in the dying minutes.
Rebels GM/head coach Brent Sutter wasn't disappointed with his club's effort against a squad that has suffered just one Western Hockey League loss this season and is considered to be among the top teams - if not the top team - in the Eastern Conference.
"I thought we played pretty well. We played hard, we competed . . . we just did a lot of good things. We battled hard here tonight," said Sutter.
The Rebels boss wasn't a fan of the Raiders' winning goal, scored by Brett Leason at the five-minute mark of the third period in front of 2,706 fans at the Art Hauser Centre.
Leason fired the puck off the end boards and then out-legged the Rebels defenders to bury his own rebound past netminder Ethan Anders.
"It's tough to give up a goal like that, you can't let it happen," said Sutter. "Your defence has a breakdown on a dump-in, you can't let the guy beat both defencemen in there to get to the puck.
"But it was a smart play on their players' part and it wasn't a good play on our defencemen's part. It was a 1-1 game at the time."
Leason, who was selected as the game's first star, also assisted on the Raiders' opening goal by Sean Montgomery just 68 seconds into the contest.
The Rebels pulled even just three minutes later when Reese Johnson hauled in a centering pass from Josh Tarzwell and, from the low slot, put a shot over the glove of Raiders goaltender Ian Scott.
And that was it until Leason snapped the tie.
"We played hard. I thought we played hard both these games," said Sutter, referring also to Friday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Saskatoon Blades.
"Tonight we were right there. If we (continue to) play that hard and compete like that we'll win our shares of games."
Notable: Scott, who made 25 saves, and Anders, who turned aside 25 shots, were named second and third stars of the game . . . The Rebels returned home following the contest and will be back in game action next Friday against the host Edmonton Oil Kings. The Rebels will entertain the Kootenay Ice 24 hours later.
Western Hockey League Stories from October 14, 2018
- ICE Fall 2-1 in OT to Cougars - Kootenay Ice
- Giants Hand the Royals Their First Loss of 2018-19 - Vancouver Giants
- Colina Lifts Cougars in Overtime - Prince George Cougars
- Royals Tripped up by Giants - Victoria Royals
- Blades Win Streak Snapped Sunday Afternoon by Rival Raiders - Saskatoon Blades
- Hitmen Hopes Snuffed in Overtime - Calgary Hitmen
- Raiders Earn Win In Matinee In Saskatoon - Prince Albert Raiders
- Pats Rebound from Three Deficits, Win in Overtime - Regina Pats
- Winterhawks Game Day Preview: Portland vs. Everett - Game #9 - Portland Winterhawks
- Beasts of the East Clash at SaskTel Centre - Saskatoon Blades
- ICE Meet Cougars for First and Only Time this Season - Kootenay Ice
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, October 14 vs. Regina Pats - Calgary Hitmen
- Game Day Preview: Pats Wrap Road Trip in Afternoon Tilt with Hitmen - Regina Pats
- Boyko Gets First WHL Start, Ams Take 5-4 Victory over Kelowna - Tri-City Americans
- Royals Outlast Giants in Overtime - Victoria Royals
- 'Tips Power over Kamloops 7-2 - Everett Silvertips
- Giants Earn a Single Point in a 3-2 Overtime Loss in Victoria - Vancouver Giants
- Tigers Edge ICE 4-3 in Shootout - Kootenay Ice
- Cougars Break Skid with Shootout Victory - Prince George Cougars
- Tigers Outlast Ice in a 4-3 Shootout Victory - Medicine Hat Tigers
- T-Birds Drill Oil Kings - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Tri-City Gets Better of Rockets in Close Affair - Kelowna Rockets
- Rebels Come up Just Short against Raiders Despite Carrying Play in Third Period - Red Deer Rebels
- Hofer Stands Tall as Broncos Secure First Victory of the Season - Swift Current Broncos
- Leason's Third-Period Goal Lead Raiders To Win - Prince Albert Raiders
- Wheat Kings Fall to Broncos in Shootout - Brandon Wheat Kings
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