DUBNetwork Feature game of the night: Rebels @ Silvertips 7:05 PM PST
After being postponed yesterday because of closed winter roads in the state of Washington, hockey will be played in Everett tonight. The Rebels were #stuckinhoodriver for most of the day yesterday, something that the team’s social media seemed to take in stride.
We are in Hood River, OR. It’s really nice this time of year. The local McDonald’s has been very accommodating. Highways closed, sure would like to get to Everett for our date with @WHLsilvertips #RDR pic.twitter.com/p0JEEDIvkL
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) February 13, 2019
The Red Deer Rebels (28-19-4-1) are in the midst of a US Division road swing, that just got a little bit busier. The Rebels were supposed to play Wednesday night in Everett, which now lines up quite the three in three series for the club. The Rebels are now slated to play tonight in Everett, tomorrow in Kent, and Saturday night in Portland. Two of those games facing the top two teams in the Division. Red Deer is still searching for a way to break their six game losing streak, something that is easier said than done, especially given their upcoming opponents.
The Rebels might be on a six game skid, and falling like wet snow through the standings but there are some bright spots. The team’s leading goal scorer Brandon Hagel has continued his consistency through the rough spot on a pretty stellar season for the Rebels. The overage forward has crushed his point total from last season of 56, garnering another 78 points already this year even with another month to go.
The Everett Silvertips (38-13-1-1) are also gearing up for quite the next little stretch thanks to the postponed contest last night. The Silvertips are going to be spending a lot of time travelling in the coming week. The ‘Tips play tonight at home, tomorrow in Kelowna, Saturday night back in Seattle, and then on Tuesday in Prince George. We know the WHL schedule makers have a thankless job, but this stretch of games was tough before the postponement.
I sure hope the @WHLsilvertips have a nice bus for the players sake. By my count, the team is slated to travel over 1900 km on that bus in the next 5 days. Oh yeah, they also play 4 games in those 5 days. #DUBNetwork #WHL
— Caden Fanshaw (@CadenFanshaw) February 14, 2019
The Silvertips will surely be exhausted most likely forcing their back up goaltender Max Palaga seeing some playing time. Palaga, acquired from Kamloops earlier this season has not seen much playing time. The Silvertips have been riding the coat tails of Dustin Wolf for 48 games this season, while Palaga has only seen time in eight. It’s not like the Kamloops native has been awful in the crease, in those eight starts he hasn’t allowed more than two goals once. Palaga boasts a 1.644 goals against average, and a .944 save percentage.
Expected goalies:
- Ethan Anders (RD) 3.120 GAA, .907 SV%- Anders has not won a game since January 26th against the Prince George Cougars. That was five starts ago.
- Dustin Wolf (EVT) 1.770 GAA, .933 SV%- Wolf is coming off his fifth shutout of the season coming against the notorious Portland Winterhawks.
The only other game:
Edmonton Oil Kings (30-17-4-4) @ Moose Jaw Warriors (30-14-6-2)
- Edmonton trying to break the curse, have not beaten the Warriors in three games so far this season, they meet tonight for the fourth time.
