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Rebels dominated in loss

The Rebels dominated the Everett Silvertips through the first two periods Friday, then watched as the visitors potted a pair of unanswered third-period goals and eventually pulled out a 3-2 Western Hockey League shootout win before a gathering of 4,768 at the Centrium.
Rebels vs Silvertips 111028jer
Turner Elson

Silvertips 3 Rebels 2 (SO)

The Red Deer Rebels can sympathize with the Moose Jaw Warriors.

The Rebels dominated the Everett Silvertips through the first two periods Friday, then watched as the visitors potted a pair of unanswered third-period goals and eventually pulled out a 3-2 Western Hockey League shootout win before a gathering of 4,768 at the Centrium.

It was exactly one week previous that the visiting Warriors outshot the Rebels 41-16 and left town with zero points.

Red Deer fired 54 shots at Everett netminder Kent Simpson during regulation and overtime, and the ‘Tips stopper blocked three of the five Red Deer gunners in the shootout.

“He (Simpson) played really well. We threw a lot of pucks at him and he came up big for them,” said Rebels veteran forward Josh Cowen, whose first goal of the season midway through the second period gave his squad a 2-0 lead.

“He was the reason they won the game tonight.”

A lack of discipline on the Rebels part also came into play.

Back to back extra minors following a pair of scraps early in the third period allowed the ‘Tips to gain a measure of momentum. Kohl Bauml connected just six seconds after the second infraction expired and Josh Winquist pulled the visitors even at the nine-minute mark with Kayle Doetzel serving a hooking penalty.

“We wanted to start the third period the way we started the game and we didn’t do that,” said Rebels GM/head coach Jesse Wallin, whose club held a 35-12 advantage in shots through the first 40 minutes.

“We were a little casual on our first shift but we also took three minor penalties in the first eight minutes of the period and that’s really what allowed them to get back into it.”

The Rebels boss was somewhat perturbed with a slashing call that Chad Robinson took following a clean hit by Everett’s Nick Walters that also resulted in a fight, and a roughing minor that Alex Petrovic picked up prior to a scrap with Ryan Chynoweth.

“Those just weren’t very intelligent decisions,” said Wallin. “Losing a guy like Petro for seven minutes in a fight with a 16-year-old doesn’t make a lot of sense. Ultimately we have to do a better job with our discipline.”

Simpson stopped all 18 shots he faced in a scoreless opening period and didn’t surrender a goal until John Persson potted his fourth of the season at 2:02 of the second frame, taking a corner pass and connecting with a high backhand from close range.

Cowen scored on a scramble at 9:52 and the Rebels appeared to be in complete control considering the visitors seldom tested Red Deer netminder Bolton Pouliot.

But a pair of unanswered third-period goals got the Silvertips to an eventual shootout in which they slipped three pucks past Pouliot on five attempts, Cody Fowlie’s shot bringing the visitors off the bench in celebration.

Daulton Siwak and Persson were the Rebels’ successful shooters.

“For the first two periods we took it to them. We outshot them, outhit and outchanced them, but didn’t bury enough chances, obviously,” said Cowen. “Then we let them back in it in the third period.”

Outside of the third-period letdown, Wallin didn’t have any problems with his club’s performance.

“I thought we played our best game of the year tonight,” he said. “The tenacity and the energy that we played with . . . it’s funny how you can move the puck when you’re moving your feet and are engaged physically.

“I really liked our first two periods, unfortunately we shot ourselves in the foot in the third period.”

Wallin was also OK with Pouliot’s showing. Pouliot made 26 saves during his second start of the season.

“There were stretches where he didn’t see many shots, but he made some key saves for us. In the end, I was disappointed for him,” said Wallin.

The Rebels are in Lethbridge tonight to face the Hurricanes.

gmeachem@www.reddeeradvocate.com

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