Rebels Win 5-4 in OT over Edmonton
December 27, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release
Jake DeBrusk made his Red Deer Rebels debut as they welcomed the Edmonton Oil Kings to town to kick off the post-Christmas half of the season.
FIRST PERIOD
Edmonton opened the game with a flurry of scoring chances but it would be the Rebels opening the scoring thanks to their leading point getter. Ivan Nikolishin was awarded a penalty shot after being fouled while on a breakaway. He made no mistake in going five hole on Edmonton goalie Patrick Dea for his 20th goal of the year and a 1-0 Rebels lead 3:35 into the game.
The Oil Kings answered back 37 seconds later as Anatolii Elizarov beat Rylan Toth for his first-ever WHL goal.
The new guy put the Rebels back ahead with a powerplay goal just over three minutes later. Nikolishin fed DeBrusk with a superb pass and the Boston Bruins first round pick tapped home his 10th goal of the year into an open net. Adam Musil also assisted on the 2-1 Rebels goal at the 7:26 mark.
Brett Pollock argued his previous tripping penalty and would be sent right back to the sin bin. The Rebels would take full advantage thanks to another superb pass from Nikolishin, this time to Musil who put home his 12th goal of the year. DeBrusk earned his first Rebels assist on the 3-1 goal at 8:59.
SECOND PERIOD
The Rebels continued to make the best of their scoring chances in the middle frame as Brandon Hagel beat Dea top shelf for his 7th goal of the year. Conner Bleackley, with a great set-up, and Grayson Pawlenchuk assisted on the 4-1 Rebels goal, 6:11 into period two.
Edmonton's powerplay, which came into the game tied with the Rebels for fifth-best in the league, struck at the 10:30 mark as Lane Bauer beat Toth for his 18th of the year. Colton Kehler made the goal possible with a great cross-crease pass.
The Oil Kings pilled within a goal at 16:36 when Tyler Robertson won a faceoff right to Kobe Mohr, he spinned and fired one through Toth to make it 4-3.
THIRD PERIOD
A seemingly harmless shot ended up tying the game for Edmonton. Dysin Mayo's shot from the point hit a body and found the back of the Rebels net. Brett Pollock was credited with his 14th goal of the year. The Oil Kings, who once trailed 4-1, tied the game 4-4 with 4:34 to go.
OVERTIME
Conner Bleackley won it for the Rebels when he fired a wrist shot from the point, beating Dea for the game winning goal 1:26 into the extra frame. Colton Bobyk assisted on Bleackley's goal, his 9th of the year, to give the Rebels a 5-4 win.
BOOSTER JUICE THREE STARS
1. Ivan Nikolishin RD
2. Adam Musil RD
3. Dysin Mayo EDM
HARDEST WORKING REBEL - Conner Bleackley
NOTES - DeBrusk arrived at the rink about two hours before game time after driving in from Swift Current upon being traded... Rebels scratches for the game were Haydn Fleury, Josh Mahura, Ryan Pouliot, Austin Pratt and Michael Spacek... attendance for the game was 6037
NEXT GAME - The Rebels welcome the East Division leading Brandon Wheat Kings Saturday, January 2nd
Western Hockey League Stories from December 27, 2015
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- Four Unanswered Sink Blades against Raiders - Saskatoon Blades
- Chiefs Blank T-Birds - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Chiefs Return to Action, Shut out T-Birds 3-0 - Spokane Chiefs
- Winterhawks Edge Americans in Overtime - Tri-City Americans
- Jones OT Penalty Shot Gives Winterhawks 5-4 Win over Tri-Cities - Portland Winterhawks
- Oil Kings Can't Complete Comeback, Lose 5-4 in Overtime to Rebels - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Rebels Win 5-4 in OT over Edmonton - Red Deer Rebels
- Hitmen come back Refreshed, Win 4-0 - Calgary Hitmen
- G-Men Double Silvertips 4-2 - Vancouver Giants
- Pats Exit Break with 6-3 Loss - Regina Pats
- Game Notes: Broncos Host Warriors - Swift Current Broncos
- Andreas Schumacher Dealt to T-Birds - Swift Current Broncos
- T-Birds Acquire Schumacher from Broncos - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Game 35: December 27 vs Lethbridge - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Broncos Trade Debrusk - Swift Current Broncos
- Rebels Get DeBrusk From Broncos - Red Deer Rebels
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, December 27 at Kootenay - Calgary Hitmen
- 4 Wheat King Finalists for Sun Award - Brandon Wheat Kings
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