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WHL Red Deer Rebels

Rebels Surrender Three Man-Advantage Markers in Shutout Loss to Oil Kings

March 20, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release


EDMONTON - Five-on-five, the Red Deer Rebels held up rather well against the Edmonton Oil Kings, the prohibitive favourites to take top honours in the WHL's Central Division in this abbreviated season.

Unfortunately for the visitors, they were short-handed on too many occasions during the first two periods on Friday in a 5-0 loss at the Downtown Community Arena.

The Oil Kings added a pair of even-strength goals in the third period after firing three power-play markers in the first 40 minutes.

"Just undisciplined hockey," said Rebels GM/head coach Brent Sutter, whose club was penalized nines times in a 5-1 win over Lethbridge last Sunday and was assessed seven more on Friday, none in the third period.

"That's 16 minor penalties we've taken in two games, in five periods of hockey. You can't put yourselves at a disadvantage like that against a good hockey team," said Sutter.

The Oil Kings were three-for-seven on the power play while improving to 5-0-0-0. The Rebels, zero-for-three with a man advantage, dropped to 2-4-2-0.

"Our specialty teams weren't good. Our power play didn't produce anything and our penalty kill struggled," said Sutter.

The Oil Kings were up 2-0 after one period as Josh Williams cashed a man-advantage rebound just 1:28 into the game, and Dylan Guenther beat netminder Ethan Anders with a one-timer from the left circle, again on the power play.

Whatever momentum the Rebels were able to muster was quickly curtailed by another penalty.

"We took four minor penalties in a row," said Sutter, referring to a late first-period call and then three consecutive infractions in the second frame.

"Five-on-five we were fine, it just comes down to undisciplined hockey," he added.

While Dallon Melin served a too-many-men penalty early in the middle period, Williams scored his second of the night from the outer edge of the right circle.

The hosts put the game out of reach when Guenther potted his second of the evening - and eighth of the season - at 11:47 of the third period and Williams completed his hat trick with four seconds left.

Anders finished with 32 saves and wasn't at fault on any of the Edmonton goals. The overage netminder stoned Williams on a first-period breakaway and in the third period took goals away from Jalen Luypen and Carter Souch with excellent blocker and pad saves.

"Andy played well," said Sutter.

As did heralded Oil Kings stopper Sebastian Cossa, who along with Guenther is projected to be a first-round pick in the 2021 NHL entry draft. The six-foot-six Fort McMurray product made a great sliding pad save on Ethan Rowland and a fine glove stab on Arshdeep Bains in the opening period, and in the third denied Melin from the edge of the crease to cap a 34-save outing.

"We had some scoring chances against a really good goalie, but you have to bear down," said Sutter. "There has to be a purpose when you shoot the puck."

Notable: Oil Kings defenceman Logan Dowhaniuk made an impressive open-ice hit on Kyle Masters in the final frame then shortly after absorbed a beatdown courtesy of Josh Tarzwell . . . Edmonton swept the three star selections - (1) Williams, (2) Guenther and (3) Cossa . . . The clubs meet again on Saturday at the Centrium and back in Edmonton on Sunday. Both games start at 6 p.m.

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 20, 2021


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