Rebels Get Late Power Play Goal to Topple Americans in High-Scoring Affair
February 23, 2020 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release
On a negative note, the Red Deer Rebels surrendered two goals to the Tri-City Americans inside the first minute of Saturday's WHL game.
On the plus side, the Rebels had nearly the entire game to get back in gear, and they did just that in short order, scoring three first-period goals en route to a 7-5 WHL victory at the Centrium.
With Red Deer on the power play, Ben King, with his second goal of the game, notched the winner with 1:38 remaining, his quick shot off a seam pass from Arshdeep Bains beating Americans netminder Talyn Boyko just inside the post.
Josh Tarzwell sealed the deal with an empty-net marker, his team-leading 28th goal of the season, with 34 seconds left.
"Lots of goals," said Rebels GM/head coach Brent Sutter. "Lots of goals that all three goalies would like to have back.
"We found a way, capitalized on a power play near the end of the game. At the end of the day it's nice to score a bunch of goals, nice to get some offence going."
Many of the 5,106 fans had yet to settle into their seats when the visitors struck for two goals in the first 57 seconds. Jadon Joseph beat Rebels goaltender Byron Fancy with a sharp angle shot from the corner just 17 seconds in, and Edge Lambert, alone in the low slot, notched a power play marker 30 ticks later, converting a centering feed from Joseph.
Two shots, two goals, and Fancy's night was over.
"I wasn't happy obviously with being down 2-0 in the first minute of the game. I had no choice as a coach but to pull our goalie at that point and try and get something going," said Sutter, who replaced Fancy with Ethan Anders.
"It worked for us but our goaltending has to be better and we have to tighten up in certain areas in our zone. Other than that, I thought we played well."
Chris Douglas got the Rebels rolling a mere 23 seconds after Tri-City's second goal, waiting for a defenceman to commit, then beating Boyko to the glove side from the left circle.
"Dougie got a big goal which got us back to 2-1 quickly. Then you get some momentum and after that I thought we had a real good first period," said Sutter.
Jaxsen Wiebe pounced on a turnover at the Rebels blueline, fought off a check and scored on a breakaway to make it 2-2 at 7:58 of the opening frame, and Christoffer Sedoff's point shot slipped through Boyko's pads before the period ended.
"It felt good, it was really nice to get a bounceback. We really needed it," said Douglas of his 12th goal of the season. "And then that second goal by Wieber was really big to get us back in the game and get us settled down."
Rookie defenceman Kyle Masters gave the Rebels a two-goal cushion on a power play at 6:33 of the middle frame. He moved in from the point and from the left circle one-timed a rink-side feed from Douglas into the back of the net.
Sasha Mutala got one back for the visitors on the power play at 7:46 and the Colorado Avalanche prospect connected again with two minutes left in the period on a slapshot from the right circle, again with a man advantage.
King restored Red Deer's lead with .8 seconds remaining in the period, cashing a goalmouth pass from Arshdeep Bains, but Booker Daniel pulled the Americans even at 5-5 at 11:18 of the third. Anders misplayed the puck behind the goal and Daniel scored on a wrap-around into an empty net.
"It was a little bit of a runaway game, high scoring. It was a big goal from our power play at the end, it was just nice to pull through," said Douglas, who was named first star of the contest with a goal and three assists.
"These games are always a bit of fun but you have to try and stay disciplined. Sometimes they get out of hand and the turnovers are kind of all over the place. But it was a runaway with lots of chances and I had a lot of fun."
The Rebels were lacking in discipline and gave up three power play goals. On a positive note, they also struck three times with a man advantage.
"Penalties hurt us. We took some penalties at bad times, three in the offensive zone that you can't take," said Sutter.
"They got three power play goals on us tonight and two freebies. That's the five goals we gave up tonight."
The Rebels would have increased their goal total if they had taken greater advantage off the rush.
"We have a lot of work to do on that still," said Sutter. "There's a lot of two-on-one and three-on-twos that you have to get scoring chances on and we don't seem to even get a shot.
"It's something we continue to go through a lot in practice, including videos and other things. Those are plays you have to be able to make. We did some things, especially in the third. We were better on our rushes but in the first two periods I didn't think we were."
Notable: King was selected as the game's second star and Mutala was named third star . . . Anders turned aside 18 of the 21 shots he faced while Boyko made 31 saves . . . The Rebels are idle until next weekend when they host the Winnipeg Ice and Edmonton Oil Kings Friday and Saturday.
Western Hockey League Stories from February 23, 2020
- Delta Hockey Academy Green Win Inaugural WHL U.S. Challenge Cup - WHL
- Pats Trip Kings in OT - Regina Pats
- Game Day Hub: February 23 - Portland Winterhawks
- Game Day Preview: Pats Conclude Three in Three Sunday at Home to Brandon - Regina Pats
- Wolf and Goncalves Help Tips Break Giants' Streak - Everett Silvertips
- Royals Shoot Past Rockets on Sold out Pink in the Rink Night - Victoria Royals
- Hitmen Clinch Playoff Berth with 6-4 Win in Kamloops - Calgary Hitmen
- Rockets pick up a point in the shootout - Kelowna Rockets
- Rebels Get Late Power Play Goal to Topple Americans in High-Scoring Affair - Red Deer Rebels
- Brendan Williamson's First Career Goal Silences Winterhawks - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Tigers Fall 2-1 to Chiefs - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Giants Winning Streak Ends at 11 After a 2-1 Setback in Everett - Vancouver Giants
- Dante Giannuzzi Ties Career High 30 Saves in Seattle - Portland Winterhawks
- Americans Come up Short in Back-And-Forth Game against Rebels - Tri-City Americans
- Wheat Kings on Wrong End of 2-1 Decision against Raiders - Brandon Wheat Kings
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
