Rebels' Power Play Comes Through in Overtime
Published on March 1, 2018 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release
The Red Deer Rebels let the Calgary Hitmen hang around Wednesday night at the Centrium and it almost bit them.
But the Rebels power play came to the rescue in overtime as Reese Johnson scored on a one-timer to give the home side a 3-2 Western Hockey League victory witnessed by a recorded gathering of 3,546.
Johnson buried a cross-ice feed from Grayson Pawlenchuk to give the Rebels an all important second point and boost them six clear of the Kootenay Ice for the third and final playoff berth in the Central Division.
"We had a four-on-three so I carried it in just to get it set up," said Johnson, whose winner was his 20th goal of the season. "I was yelling for Pawly. We were practising that play lots in practice and he had an awesome pass for me."
The Rebels appeared to be well on their way to their 22nd win of the season after heading to the first intermission with a 2-0 lead.
Mason McCarty opened the scoring near the midway point of the first period, grabbing a pass from Jacob Herauf, breaking over the blueline and beating Hitmen netminder Nick Schneider with a snap shot from the right circle.
Chris Douglas doubled the Rebels' lead on a power play just under five minutes later. The second-year forward cut to the net and was stopped by Schneider, but poked the loose puck between the goaltender's pads.
"Dougie played well. I thought that line played well," said Red Deer GM/head coach Brent Sutter, referring also to Akash Bains and Brandon Cutler. "It was an energy line for us, they spent a lot of time in the offensive zone."
Unfortunately, as Sutter noted, the trio was also victimized for Calgary's first goal, scored by Riley Stotts at 6:39 of the second period.
"Everyone was trying to over-compensate for a mistake and got caught out of position," said Sutter. "Other than that I thought that line was very good and Dougie played very well."
After the Rebels wasted numerous scoring opportunities due to misplaced shots as well as the play of Schneider, the visitors pulled even with just over five minutes remaining in regulation time as Conner Chaulk buried a rebound after a wrap-around attempt by Jakob Stukel.
The score held up through the remainder of the period and the Rebels were granted a golden opportunity when Hitmen defenceman Vladislav Yeryomenko was assessed a tripping penalty 35 seconds into overtime.
"That was a hard fought game. We had lots of opportunities offensively, we just didn't bury our chances," said Sutter. "They made a good play on their tying goal, but it was a tight checking game.
"Overall you have to be happy with two points. At this time of the year obviously points are big and the two we got here tonight are huge.
"We had some quality scoring chances, we just didn't capitalize on them and we have to get better at that. But again, it's a big win."
The Rebels were two-for-five with a man advantage and killed off their lone penalty, a somewhat questionable tripping call on Ethan Sakowich midway through the third period.
"The power play was huge for us tonight and killing that one off was big too," said Sutter.
The Rebels' ability to steer clear of the penalty box in recent games has been a big plus, said the Rebels boss.
"It's discipline, playing the right way . . . not taking the lazy penalties 200 feet from our net which we seemed to take a lot of in the first half of the year.
"But they've been better at that and that's big when you're not sitting in the penalty box."
Red Deer and Kootenay, 5-2 losers Wednesday to the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors, tangle Friday at the Centrium and a win for the Rebels would go a long way towards snaring a post-season berth.
"Obviously it was a great win in the end, but we still have things we can be better at and we have to prepare for Friday with a big four-point game coming up," said Johnson.
Notable: Schneider was named first star of the game after making 35 saves. Riley Lamb stopped 18 shots for the Rebels . . . Selected as the second and third stars were Douglas and Johnson, who had a two-point night with an assist on Douglas' goal . . . Herauf assisted on all three Red Deer markers to give him 18 points (2g,16a) on the season . . . Red Deer defenceman Alex Alexeyev left the game in the third period with an apparent upper body injury and didn't return. His status following the game was unknown.
Western Hockey League Stories from March 1, 2018
- Silvertips Expecting Large Weekend Crowd for Friday vs. Kelowna, Saturday vs. Seattle - Everett Silvertips
- Rockets Ready to Square off with Silvertips in Everett - Kelowna Rockets
- Rockets Suit up with Don Cherry to Promote Organ Donation - Presented by RE/MAX - Kelowna Rockets
- Prince George Cougars Suits up with Don Cherry Night March 3rd - Prince George Cougars
- Rowland Waiting to Make Rebels Debut Upon Completion of Midget AAA Season - Red Deer Rebels
- Rebels' Lamb Named WHL Goaltender of the Month - WHL
- Broncos's Gawdin Named WHL Player of the Month - WHL
- Team Captain Glenn Gawdin Named WHL Player of the Month for February - Swift Current Broncos
- Chiefs Extend Education Advisor Joe Everson - Spokane Chiefs
- Lind Signs 3-Year Entry Level Contract with Canucks - Kelowna Rockets
- Bowen Byram Named WHL Rookie of the Month for February - Vancouver Giants
- Giants' Byram Named WHL Rookie of the Month - WHL
- Raiders Hosting Luck of the Irish Night - Prince Albert Raiders
- Gutenburg is Telus Player of the Month - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Cougars Sweep Rockets In Dramatic Comeback - Prince George Cougars
- Davis Named February's Player of the Month - Kootenay Ice
- Royals Bested by Blazers - Victoria Royals
- Rebels' Power Play Comes Through in Overtime - Red Deer Rebels
- Rockets Drop Score-fest to Prince George - Kelowna Rockets
- Hitmen Fall to Rebels in OT - Calgary Hitmen
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