Rebels 4 Bruins 3
CHILLIWACK, B.C — The Red Deer Rebels closed out their six-game Western Hockey League Western Conference road trip on a positive note Friday, sliding past the Chilliwack Bruins 4-3 before a gathering of 3,227 at the Prospera Centre.
The Rebels, who gained at least one point in five of the six contests, jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Mathew Dumba potted his fifth of the season 4:21 into the contest, Tyson Ness made it 2-0 at 7:40 and Brett Ferguson, with his fourth of the season, connected 50 seconds later.
The Bruins got one back when defenceman Brandon Manning scored at 10:19, and Manning connected again just over six minutes later with Rebels defenceman Lucas Grayson serving a roughing penalty.
Turner Elson’s seventh goal of the season gave Red Deer a 4-2 lead at 5:11 of the second period, before Ryan Howse brought the Bruins to within one with a power-play tally at 4:49 of the final frame.
Darcy Kuemper, which has been the case all season, was huge for the Rebels with a 34-save performance. For the Bruins, Lucas Gore stopped five of eight shots before being replaced by Braden Gamble, who blocked 19 of 20.
The Rebels were zero-for-three on the power play; the Bruins two-for-five.
The Rebels were scheduled to arrive back in Red Deer later this morning. Red Deer’s next home game is Friday versus the Swift Current Broncos.
l Despite the Rebels’ victory Friday, the Bruins were somehow given all three stars.