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WHL Red Deer Rebels

Rebels Gain All-Important Point in Shootout Loss to Raiders

March 1, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release


PRINCE ALBERT - After opening a four-game WHL East Division road trip with two wins, the Red Deer Rebels dropped their third game Friday night.

But in the process, they picked up a valuable point in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Prince Albert Raiders before 2,639 fans at the Art Hauser Centre.

"It was a huge point," said Rebels assistant coach Ryan Colville. "Every point is important especially with the position we're in at this time of the year. It was huge to get that point."

The single point allowed the Rebels to take sole possession of the first wild-card playoff berth in the Eastern Conference, two ahead of the Brandon Wheat Kings, who fell 3-2 to the Calgary Hitmen in overtime, and one clear of the Medicine Hat Tigers, who were 4-2 losers to the Edmonton Oil Kings.

The Rebels were the better team through the first 20 minutes Friday, outshooting their hosts 13-8 but failing to beat Raiders netminder Ian Scott.

Prince Albert held a 12-7 advantage in shots in a scoreless second frame and then outshot Red Deer 18-3 in the third.

Red Deer netminder Ethan Anders turned aside 39 shots, including two in overtime, while earning third-star status.

But the Raiders scored three straight in the shootout, with Noah Gregor, Dante Hanoun and Brett Leason connecting. Brandon Hagel was the lone Rebel to beat Scott.

"Both goalies were really good," said Colville. "Early in the game we tested their goalie a little bit more and Andy got a little bit more as the game went on. There wasn't a ton of rebounds and he battled all night long."

After neither team could find the back of the net through two periods, Gregor broke the scoreless tie with a power-play goal near the midway point of the third, his one-timer from the right circle beating Anders to the far side.

Hagel pulled the Rebels even with his 38th goal of the season and 100th of his WHL career five minutes later, cutting to the middle of the ice and scoring with a wrister from the low slot.

Both netminders rose to the occasion in the three-on-three overtime frame, with Anders denying Ozzy Wiesblatt from close range and Scott, who finished with 23 saves, making a dazzling stop on Alex Alexeyev who broke in alone.

"I thought we played well enough to get the two points," said Colville. "Structurally I thought we were good, I thought we played a really good game.

"We had a good start to the game, our first period was really good. Obviously we would have liked to have a better third period. Our play dropped off in that third period, but credit goes to them (Raiders). Their play really picked up.

"We failed to match it and this time of the year playing a good team you have to match it."

The Rebels close out the road trip with a Sunday afternoon match against the Saskatoon Blades.

Red Deer's next home game is next Friday versus Brandon.

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