As has been the case lately the game got off to a rough start for the home side. The Rebels would get themselves sent to the penalty box, recent call up River Fahey would get called for hooking just 2:45 into this one.
The Regina Pats, who were coming off of four straight losses, would put their power play to work. They made a series of passes setting up captain Sam Steel who was on the doorstep for his 11 goal of the season. Recently brought in Cale Fleury would get an assist as would Nick Henry.
Just after the 14 minute mark of the period, the Pats would have the Rebels running around a little bit in their own end. Cale Fleury would take a point shot and the rebound would go to the uncovered Jake Leschyshyn who would put it past Ethan Anders. The Pats would take a 2-0 lead to the dressing room after 20 minutes. They would also have 13 shots to the Rebels nine.
In the second period it would be the Pats who found themselves in penalty trouble. First Robbie Holmes would go off for tripping, then Dawson Davidson for cross-checking and finally Josh Mahura would take a delay of game penalty. This would set up a 5-on-3 for Red Deer. After a couple of excellent chances being thwarted by Pats starter Tyler Brown, the Rebels second power play unit would hit pay dirt. Dawson Barteaux threw a pass across the ice to Jacob Herauf who wristed a shot from the top of the circle past Brown to make it a 2-1 game.
The period would continue to see Red Deer add all kinds of pressure on Brown but he was up to the task, allowing just the one goal in the second frame. Shots would wind up 20-16 for the Pats after 40.
More highlight reel stuff from the Rebels in the third period but again Tyler Brown was able to get body parts in front of the puck. The period would see a lot of action but it took until 14:34 of the period to see any goals and it would be Matt Bradley with his 18th goal of the year. Sam Steel would hammer a shot off the end boards that came right out to Henry. He put a shot on net that would go off of Bradley and past Anders. Pats lead 3-1.
3:20 later Reese Johnson would find himself in front of the Pats net all alone. The puck would be passed to him from the side boards by Mason McCarty. Johnson put a low wrister past Brown and the score would be 3-2 Pats on Johnson’s 10th goal of the year.
The Pats would put the game away though when McCarty was stripped of the puck in his own end with the net empty. Matt Bradley just had to put the puck towards the front of the net for Sam Steel who would put his 12th into the empty net to make it a final 4-2 for the Pats.
The loss would extend the Rebels losing streak to seven games, and give them a 1-10-3-0 over their last 14 games. The Rebels are currently two points back of third in the central division and six points back of the final wild card spot with 44 games left to play.
Rebel Yell… The three stars on the night were 1) Tyler Brown 2) Jacob Herauf 3) Nick Henry. Red Deer went 1-for-5 on the power play while Regina went 2-for-3. Sam Steel led all Pats players with 5 shots while Mason McCarty led all players with 6. Jake Leschyshyn went 15-of-22 in the face off dot and Reese Johnson was 12-of-23. The announced attendance was 4069. The Rebels next action is tonight at 7Pm against the Calgary Hitmen at the Centrium while the Regina Pats play Sunday at 4PM against the Hitmen in Calgary.
