Rebels Hope to Build off Saturday's Offensive Performance Heading into Game 3 of Conference Quarter-Final with Raiders
March 25, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release
They're losing the war but the Red Deer Rebels can take solace in the fact that they won some battles in Game 2 of their WHL Eastern Conference quarter-final Saturday in Prince Albert.
The Rebels found a way to get four pucks past Raiders and Team Canada netminder Ian Scott, with three of them coming courtesy of a power play that struggled mightily through lengthy stretches during the second half of the season.
The offensive outburst occurred 24 hours following Red Deer's 3-0 opening-game loss, a game in which the Rebels were impressive defensively and held the Raiders to a single shot in the third period.
Unfortunately, Sunday's offensive breakthrough was accompanied by several defensive breakdowns that resulted in a 6-4 setback and a 0-2 series deficit.
Now it's a matter of the Rebels finding a happy medium - maintain their offensive push while being more effective with their defensive coverage -
for Game 3 Tuesday at the Centrium.
"Any playoff game in which you score four goals, you should win that game," Rebels forward Jeff de Wit said Monday.
"But the fact we did score four after not getting any in the first game is a huge plus for us and I think it's going to be a huge confidence thing for us going into Game 3 . . . knowing that we can put up four goals against them."
The Raiders, ranked second in the final CHL top-10 rankings, were not only the WHL's best team during the regular season, but also surrendered the second-least amount of goals.
"Credit to them, they played great in Prince Albert," said de Wit. "Their defence has been solid, their whole team has been solid.
"I think our effort has been there the last two games, it's just little mistakes that cost us. I think in Game 2 we kind of beat ourselves in a way. We're looking forward to Game 3, it's going to be a great game."
Brandon Hagel, who scored three times in Sunday's loss, insisted the Rebels still have time to correct the negatives in their play while focusing on the positives.
"That's why it takes four games to win a series - you have to figure out other teams," he said. "Maybe it's taken us a little longer, but I think we know what we have to do.
"Obviously they did what they did at home and we know what we need to do here."
Hagel, like de Wit, gave the Raiders credit for taking command of the best-of-seven series on home ice.
"They're a really good hockey team, they have a real good goaltender and they're solid defensively," he said. "But knowing that we can score goals on them is huge to know in the dressing room . . . that there is a chance, there is a way."
If Sunday's man-advantage performance is a harbinger of things to come, the Rebels will be that much better off in the next two contest, including Game 4 Wednesday at the Centrium.
"I think we were just finding open guys," Hagel said of the team's extra-man success Sunday. "We were moving the puck quicker, getting their guys moving a bit which opened up space for us."
Hagel also credited de Wit for standing his ground in front of Scott during the power plays.
"Jeff did a really good job of taking the guy in the front of the net, making it basically a four-on three," said Hagel. "When you have a guy who's going to sacrifice his body in front of the net . . . you can't ask for nothing else."
The mood in the Red Deer locker room is still one of confidence, Hagel stressed, especially being back at home.
"Like we've been harping, it takes four games to win a series," he said. "It's 2-0 now, it doesn't matter. If they hit four it will matter."
Games 5 through 7 - if necessary - are slated for Friday in Prince Albert, Sunday at the Centrium (2 p.m. start) and Tuesday in P.A.
Western Hockey League Stories from March 25, 2019
- Round One, Game Two Reaction - Portland Winterhawks
- Rebels Hope to Build off Saturday's Offensive Performance Heading into Game 3 of Conference Quarter-Final with Raiders - Red Deer Rebels
- Silvertips Defenseman Jake Christiansen Named WHL on the Run Player of the Week, Second Tips Honor this Season - Everett Silvertips
- Silvertips' Christiansen Named WHL On the Run Player of the Week - WHL
- Hurricanes' Tetachuk Named WHL Eli Wilson Goaltending Goaltender of the Week - WHL
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.
