On Saturday night after the Red Deer Rebels lost 5-2 to the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings. Head coach Brent Sutter had some choice words about his team’s level of effort and their results after the game.
Tonight the Red Deer Rebels (3-3-0-0) took on the Everett Silvertips (3-4-0-0) in their first match up in Red Deer since January 23, 2016. The result was much more in line with the game plan and the attention to fundamentals. “It was certainly a different game from the other night on our part. From the goaltender out, we battled.” commented head coach Brent Sutter after the game.
Red Deer would open the scoring just one minute 27 seconds into this one, on the power play. Detroit Red Wings prospect, Lane Zablocki would score his first goal of the season on a rebound after a shot from the point by Kristian Reichel. The extra assist would go to Rebels captain Grayson Pawlenchuk.
The Silvertips would have a difficult time entering the Rebels zone all night, but it was especially noticeable in the first period. The Rebels would not allow Everett to get a shot on net until 6:13 of the first frame. They would then go on to not allow a single shot on their first penalty kill.
Late in the first period the Silvertips would be on the penalty kill and catch a break when Jacob Herauf fanned on a point shot that sent Matt Fonteyne on a 2-on-0 rush. “Im happy they didn’t go beside each other, he kinda just came in on a breakaway.” said first star on the night Ethan Anders. Fonteyne would hold onto the puck too long and starting Rebels netminder Anders was able to make the save to keep the game 1-0 Rebels. The period would end in the same score. Shots were 11-6 Red Deer.
There would be some rough play in the second period that would result in each team having a guy in the penalty box. Orrin Centazzo was able to grab the puck in the slot area and wire a shot past Anders to tie the game up at one. After that goal, Anders was able to shut the door. “The team played a lot better defensively, they were blocking a lot more shots, that was really good and really helped me out.” Anders said when asked why the result tonight was better than Saturday.
Captain Grayson Pawlenchuk would restore the Rebel lead just over five minutes later. Pawlenchuk and a couple of Everett players were working the puck along the half-wall. Pawlenchuk was able to work it free and turn and wire a shot past Everett goaltender Dorrin Luding. Rebels back out in front 2-1.
Just as the Silvertips began to get some momentum, the Rebels had their turn with a lucky break, as Kristian Reichel and LaneZablocki were in the right place at the right time. An errant pass ended up on Zablocki’s stick, and the two Rebels were headed to the Silvertips net. Zablocki would drop the puck to Reichel, then act as the screen on a shot that was wired passed Luding. The goal would put the Rebels up 3-1 and they would lead the shots on net 23-18 after two.
The third period of this game would see the teams trade chances. Red Deer was unable to put the game away but the Silvertips were unable to make it 3-2. Ethan Anders and the Rebels would kill off two penalties in the period to finish the game 6-for-6. With 2:48 to go in the final frame Jacob Herauf would take a hooking penalty. The Silvertips would call a time out and pull Luding for the extra attacker. It would be 6-on-4 for two full minutes. Everett would put as many pucks to the end as possible but the Rebels penalty killers were up to the task, blocking shots and finally scoring from their own end, an empty netm short-handed goal by Jared Dmytriw to finish off this one 4-1.
Rebel Yell…. Ethan Anders would secure his first WHL victory in this game. He made 28 saves on 29 shots. Dorrin Luding made 31 saves on 34 shots in the loss. The Rebels move into first in the Central Division with the win. Austin Pratt recorded nine shots on the night, not including the laser beam that beat Luding but rocketed off the crossbar, those nine shots lead both teams. The Rebels hit the road tomorrow after a morning practice, they will play the Kootenay ICE in Cranbrook, BC on Thursday evening at 7pm. You can catch Cam Moon on the radio at 6:50. Everett will continue their nine-game road trip in Medicine Hat tomorrow night. Puck drop for that game is at 6PM Pacific Time, you can catch Mike Benton on the Tips App.
