Blades 4 Rebels 2
SASKATOON — Red Deer Rebels GM/head coach Jesse Wallin wasn’t pleased with the physical makeup of his team Friday night at the Credit Union Centre.
The Rebels were clearly the better team while grabbing a 1-0 first-period lead and were up 2-1 heading into the final frame of the Western Hockey League contest viewed by 4,425 fans. But following a goal by the Blades’ Matej Stransky a mere 62 seconds into the third period, the Rebels’ consistency went from rock-hard to jelly.
“We were playing well against a very good team, but when they scored early in the third we just got soft, plain and simple,” said Wallin, following a 4-2 loss to the Blades. “Their third goal was especially soft. We let them get three whacks at the puck before it went in. The goal was reviewed and allowed to stand and our soft play just continued from there.”
Wallin was referring to the Blades’ winning tally and Stransky’s second of the night at 12:59. Jake Trask added an empty-netter for good measure in the final minute, dropping Red Deer’s record to 2-1.
The Rebels got a first-period goal from Daulton Siwak and after Lukas Sutter pulled the Blades even with a power-play marker at 14:57 of the second period, moved back ahead on a goal from Tyson Ness, the game’s third star - behind Blades goaltender Andrey Makarov and Stransky — with seven seconds left in the middle frame.
But a third-period Blades charge and ensuing Rebels meltdown left the visitors on the short end of the final tally.
“We had a great scoring chance with three minutes left. We had an open net and although it looked like their goalie made a great save, it was just a matter of us not bearing down,” said Wallin. “We needed more guys battling harder. It came down to the little details which are often the difference in a game.”
Makarov and Red Deer netminder Patrik Bartosak each made 31 saves. Saskatoon was one-for-four on the power play while the Rebels were zero-for-one with a man advantage.
The Rebels conclude their two-game trip tonight versus the Prince Albert Raiders.
“We have to be better,” said Wallin.
“I know it’s eary in the season but the sooner we figure it out the better off we’ll be. We need our veteran players to take the bull by the horns and our younger guys to follow.”