The Red Deer Rebels earned a point Saturday night in their seventh straight game, but they were convinced it should have been two against the Brandon Wheat Kings.
The Rebels appeared to have won the game in overtime, but it was waved off right away. After a review, it was ruled that incidental contact was made by the Rebels on Wheat Kings netminder Logan Thompson. Less than a minute later, Stelio Mattheos scored his hat trick goal and 36th of the year to bury the Rebels 4-3 in overtime.
“We scored in overtime and I disagreed with the call totally. It was a point taken away from us, a point taken away from the kids. It was unfortunate,” said Rebels GM/head coach Brent Sutter.
“They said it was goalie interference and they couldn’t allow the goal. I didn’t see that. The goalie had no chance to stop the puck anyway. The puck went over him into the net on the rebound. I just disagree with the call totally.”
Mattheos also opened the scoring in the game in the second period, but the Rebels battled back to tie the game just 2:28 later.
Alex Morozoff scored his first goal of the night to tie the game at one on the power play in the second period. He fired a shot from the wing for the Rebels first power play marker since Jan. 20. It was also the rookie’s third WHL goal.
With Josh Tarzwell in the box, Mattheos scored his second goal of the night just 10 seconds into the power play and with six seconds left in the second period.
A pretty passing play between Kristian Reichel made its way across to winger Alex Morozoff who buried his second of the night to tie the game again early in the third.
Rebels defenceman Colin Paradis was hit hard from behind by Baron Thompson, which resulted in a five-minute power play for Red Deer in the third.
On the ensuing advantage, Tarzwell picked up a loose puck in the slot and scored at 7:12 of the final frame to give the Rebels a 3-2 lead.
It was short lived though, as Chase Hartje scored his first WHL goal to tie the game at three late in the third to force overtime.
The power play scored twice in the loss for Red Deer after going 0-12 in their last six games.
“We had hardly any until tonight,” Sutter said of the man advantages over the last stretch.
“We got two, so it’s always encouraging. We shot ourselves in the foot a little bit in the second by taking too many penalties. Four-on-four then putting yourself down 4-on-3. You can’t take penalties like that. It’s too bad.”
Ethan Anders had another solid night in net for the Rebels with 19 saves in the loss.
With the Wheat Kings second period power play goal, the Rebels also gave up their first power play goal in seven games.
The Rebels are back at home on Wednesday when they host the Calgary Hitmen.
Email sports tips to Byron Hackett
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter