Rebels' Offensive Struggles Continue in 1-0 Loss to Blades
March 3, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release
SASKATOON - The Red Deer Rebels turned in a solid defensive performance Sunday afternoon at the SaskTel Centre.
Unfortunately, their offensive play wasn't anywhere near the same level.
The Rebels directed just 17 shots at Saskatoon Blades netminder Nolan Maier - none in the third period - in a 1-0 Western Hockey League loss witnessed by 4,270 fans.
"Some of our top scoring chances today were while killing a penalty," said Rebels GM/head coach Brent Sutter. "Five-on-five we did a lot of perimeter stuff.
"We spent time in the offensive zone, we didn't spend time in tough areas . . . around the net."
The lack of scoring has been a major problem for the Rebels in recent weeks and is a major reason the club, once in top spot in the Central Division, is now battling for a wild-card playoff berth.
Nothing changed Sunday afternoon.
"We don't get enough directed at the net and don't have enough bodies going to the net," said Sutter.
"Guys wonder why they score one goal every 10, 15, 20 games. It's an overall group thing. You can't continue to rely on just a couple guys to generate offence."
Ethan Anders was outstanding in the Red Deer net while making 32 saves, yet he committed a major gaffe that led to the game's lone goal.
Anders mishandled a long, otherwise harmless shot and fanned on a clearing attempt to the corner. With the puck lying in the crease, Cyle McNabb promptly pushed it home at 6:37 of the second period.
"The mistake speaks for itself," said Sutter. "It's obviously a goal that certainly can't happen at this level, but other than that I thought he was really good."
And as the old saying goes, it's tough to blame your goalie when you can't score a single goal.
The Rebels created at least two genuine scoring opportunities in the final frame, but still didn't get a puck on net. It was the third game in succession they suffered a case of the third-period blues, despite earning points in the previous two outings.
The Saskatoon Blades host the Red Deer Rebels at the Sask Tel Centre Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, March 03, 2019 "You're not generating nothing in the third period of tight games," said Sutter. "You have to find a way to win those games."
The Rebels posted two wins and suffered a shootout loss and Sunday's regulation-time setback on the four-game East Division swing.
Not good enough, said Sutter.
"We can't be happy getting five out of eight points on this trip," he said. "Points are big and we have to win every game.
"You have to find ways to score goals without cheating defensively. It''s not about stuff on the rush, it's when we get in the zone. We have too many turnovers and lose battles. We're a one-and-out team."
Red Deer's penalty kill was excellent Sunday, denying the Blades on four man-advantages opportunities. But the Rebels also fired blanks on the power play, going zero-for-three.
The Rebels power play has been a source of concern for an extended period and is now 19th in the league with a success rate of 17.4 per cent.
"Our power play hasn't been good the last half of the year and it's really hurt us offensively," said Sutter.
"We work on it constantly, we try different personnel and different things on it. But we don't react quick enough on it, we don't move pucks quick enough and get enough shots.
"We have guys who want to play cute. Our power play will change when it becomes a workmanlike power play, where it's a power play that doesn't rely on a lot of skill, it relies on just work.
"Even though some guys think they are skilled guys, they're not producing for us and they have to change their mindset."
Notable: The Rebels remain two points ahead of the Brandon Wheat Kings for the second wild-card post-season berth in the Eastern Conference, and are one point back of the Medicine Hat Tigers for the first wild-card spot. Red Deer and Medicine Hat have each played 62 games and each have six remaining in the regular season. Brandon has played 61 games . . . The Rebels' next game is Friday versus the visiting Wheat Kings, a contest that could determine which team qualifies for the playoffs . . . Sunday's three stars were (1) Maier, who pitched his second consecutive shutout, (2) Anders and (3) McNabb.
Western Hockey League Stories from March 3, 2019
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- Rebels' Offensive Struggles Continue in 1-0 Loss to Blades - Red Deer Rebels
- Maier Shuts the Door Again, Blades Shutout Rebels - Saskatoon Blades
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- Kindopp Breaks Wall in OT for Silvertips' Win - Everett Silvertips
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