Were it not for a five-goal lead heading into the third period, the Red Deer Rebels could have been facing a three-game losing streak.
With 20 minutes to play the Rebels had staked themselves to a 5-0 lead.
Red Deer capitalized on chances at five-on-five, with the man-advantage and while short-handed.
“The special teams weren’t great,” said Tigers assistant coach Joe Frazer.
In the first period, the Rebels scored with just four seconds left on their first power play of the night. Cameron Hausinger scored his seventh goal of the season following good puck movement in the Tigers zone. The puck had been worked around and Hausinger wired a shot just under the crossbar on affiliate goaltender Evan Fradette.
It was Fradette’s first WHL start. The 18-year-old had seen action in just one other regular-season game, just this past Tuesday night in Saskatoon. Mads Sogaard is away with Denmark’s national junior team.
In the seconds period, the Rebels and the 3649 fans in attendance came to life.
In the span of three minutes and 15 seconds, Arshdeep Bains scored twice. Both of the goals came with a Rebel in the penalty box. The goals were his ninth and tenth of the season. Both goals came from a pile of hard work in the defensive zone.
“I think we are just a high-pressure pk (penalty kill) so its a lot of opportunity, if we can create turnovers and tonight, was fun,” said Bains of the Rebels two short-handed markers.
Red Deer wasn’t done there though.
Shortly after the mid-period break Josh Tarzwell scored his team-leading 13th goal of the season. He tipped a shot from Jayden Grubbe, the fooled Fradette and gave the Rebels a 4-0 lead.
There was still more from the home side as they scored with under three minutes to play in the second period.
This time it was Grubbe beating Fradette. His third goal of the season sent the Rebels down the tunnel comfortably in control of the game.
Or were they?
In a period reminiscent of the Friday the 13th movies, a nightmare began to play out at the Westerner Park Centrium.
“We had a lot of great opportunities but we played a good 40 but the last 20 was obviously not good enough we let them back in the game and we can’t let that happen again,” said Bains about what was to come.
“For 40 minutes it was right, we got a couple of shorthanded goals, our power play was good. When you got a 5-0 lead going into the third we talked about staying on the edge and keeping our intensity level up where it needed to be and make sure we are up on our toes jumping,” said Rebels general manager and head coach Brent Sutter.
Following a slow start to the period for Red Deer, the Tigers found themselves on the scoreboard.
Their 33rd shot of the game found its way past Byron Fancy. There was 12:34 to play in the game when Bryan Lockner scooped up a loose puck just behind the Rebel net following a Cyle McNabb shot. Lockner tucked it just behind the goal line for his eighth of the campaign.
The Tigers continued to pressure the Rebels. Fancy was getting pummeled with shots by this point.
Corson Hopwo cut the lead to three goals when he buried a pass on a two-on-one with James Hamblin. With the assist, Hamblin collected his 50th point of the season.
And the momentum built. The Tigers looked unstoppable as the clock ticked down.
A great individual effort with 3:20 to go pulled the Tigers to 5-3 on the power play.
Brett Kemp dodged several Rebels on his way to the net and beat Fancy cleanly. It was Kemp’s 15th goal of the season.
Medicine Hat pulled Fradette for the extra attacker and at six-on-five, Hamblin scored his 18th of the season.
The five-goal lead was now down to one.
“It was nice to see the push back in the third,” said Frazer.
Thankfully for the fans in attendance, they did not go home heartbroken.
With the Medicine Hat Tigers net empty once more the Rebels sealed it. Tarzwell tossed the puck high in the air and Brett Davis was off to the races. In all alone, he made it 6-4.
“The first two shifts of the period weren’t great shifts we had turnovers and we got off our game plan and then it seemed the whole period seemed to be that way. We made a couple of bad decisions on rushes where we got beat one on ones, we allowed them to get back in the game and the good teams are gonna do that they are gonna push they are gonna play right through to the end. Especially when they are down like that. You give them one you give them two now they got life and you gotta get it back,” said Sutter.
“They are really skilled and they work hard so we knew we had to come out strong and we did but we still have to play the full 60,” added Bains
“But hey listen, its two points, its a win against a very good team and I hope its another lesson for our group,” said Sutter.
Rebel Yell… The three stars of the night were 1) Arshdeep Bains 2) James Hamblin 3) Josh Tarzwell. Byron Fancy made 39 saves in the win. Evan Fradette had 19. Hamblin directed 8 shots at Fancy, Bains led the Rebels with 6. The Rebels power play was 2-for-2, the Tigers 1-for-6 while allowing 2 shorthanded goals. The season series is now tied, Red Deer is 2-1-0-1 Medicine Hat is 2-1-1-0. The teams meet again on March 10th and 17th.
The Rebels are holding their annual Toque, Socks, Mitt and Teddy Bear Toss night on Saturday at the Westerner Park Centrium. Tickets are just $18.
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