Rebels Roar Back from 2-0 Deficit to Post Decisive Win over Silvertips
December 31, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release
After struggling through a horrid third period in Sunday's 8-2 loss to the host Edmonton Oil Kings, one might have wondered how long it would take for the Red Deer Rebels to recover.
Not long, as it turned out.
The Rebels spotted the Everett Silvertips a 2-0 lead Monday night at the Centrium before roaring back to close out the 2019 portion of their WHL schedule with a well-deserved 6-2 victory in front of 4,128 fans.
"It was a complete game right from the get-go," said Rebels GM/head coach Brent Sutter. "We did a lot of things well. We played a certain way, like we like to see us play.
"Really, it's been kind of a 12- to 14-game stretch we've played pretty well in. We obviously had a stinker of a third period the other night but our response tonight was outstanding, we responded the right way. It was a great effort by the kids. I was proud of them."
The visitors struck first when Jake Christiansen found Wyatte Wylie with a rink-wide pass and his defensive partner connected from the left circle 7:55 into the contest during an Everett power play.
Trailing 1-0 after 20 minutes, the Rebels were the better team in the middle frame despite giving up a goal just past the midway point. Aidan Sutter was the marksman, burying a rebound after a point shot by Christiansen struck the post.
From there, though, it was all Red Deer. Chris Douglas cashed a rebound after cutting wide on Silvertips netminder Keegan Karki just 65 seconds later and Josh Tarzwell, with a quick release from the low slot, converted a perfect feed from Cam Hausinger to pull Red Deer even late in the period.
The rally was only fitting considering the Rebels had misfired on a bunch of Grade-A scoring opportunities and also wasted a few early in the contest.
"We didn't get off our game," said Sutter. "Look at the scoring chances we had in the first six to seven minutes. We had four quality scoring chances, we just didn't capitalize on them and they made the most of their opportunities.
"But we kept battling and picking away."
Defenceman Chase Leslie, with his third of the season, notched the eventual winner with a shot through a crowd from just inside the blueline at 3:37 of the final frame.
"That felt good. That was probably one of the first goals I've scored in a close game like that," said the 17-year-old defender. "The puck just kind of squirted out to me. The guy was right there so I just tried to get it off as quick as I could and it found its way to the net.
"I found a seam and it found its way through. It was cool. I'll remember that one for sure."
Keaton Sorensen made it 4-2 on a fortunate bounce at the nine-minute mark. Karki left the net to play a puck off the end boards but it bounced out front and the Red Deer rookie had a wide open net.
"We got a break on the fourth goal but we earned that break too," said Sutter.
The Silvertips pulled Karki with more than two minutes left, but Brett Davis notched an empty-net goal from the Red Deer blueline at 17:48 and Sorensen added another empty-netter 26 seconds later, his fourth goal of the season.
"It was great. We finally played a full 60 minutes and it paid off," said Leslie. "That's a good team we beat, they're quick. We were quicker and just better tonight."
The second-year rearguard said the Rebels were confident of wiping out the two-goal deficit.
"We knew two goals wasn't going to be enough in that game so we just kind of held our own, kept to the game plan and stuck it out," he noted. "They broke before we did tonight."
Byron Fancy was selected as the game's first star following a solid 31-save effort. The Red Deer netminder came up with a series of fine stops, including a breakaway deny on Jalen Price and a blocker save on Gage Goncalves.
"He's been playing great. Since Andy (Ethan Anders) has been hurt he's really stepped up," said Leslie.
Notable: Sorensen, who had an assist to go with his two goals, and Davis, who also collected three points with a goal and two helpers, were picked as the game's second and third stars . . . Everett was one-for-three on the power play, while Red Deer was zero-for-four . . . The Rebels return to action Friday versus the visiting Saskatoon Blades and host the Moose Jaw Warriors 24 hours later.
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