Oil Kings 3 Rebels 1
It was an ugly game for the Red Deer Rebels on Friday night.
After the Edmonton Oil Kings took an early lead in the third period the Rebels were unable to find the tying goal. Instead, their opponents notched an empty netter to beat Red Deer 3-1.
The Oil Kings came into the matchup in last place in the WHL with just 16 wins to their name. Meanwhile, the Rebels are looking for much-needed points to keep themselves in the hunt for the Central Division title.
What most likely should have been a win for the Rebels at the Peavey Mart Centrium turned into a painful reminder to take every team seriously.
“You don’t take anybody lightly,” said head coach Derrick Walser.
“You’ve got to play hard for 60 minutes and right now we’re starting periods three minutes late and it’s costing us. You get on your toes in the third and you take a penalty within 30 seconds into the period and it cost us tonight.”
When asked if the Rebels should have secured that win Walser put it simply. The Oil Kings played like “men” and the Rebels didn’t.
“We only played like men in the last 10 minutes of the third. You’ve got to start the game on time and can’t take stupid penalties. It’s a broken record.”
The Oil Kings scored the lone goal of the opening period to take an early 1-0 lead. Forward Gavin Hodnett beat goaltender Rhett Stoesser after tipping in a pass from Gracyn Sawchyn.
The Rebels found the equalizer just seconds into a five-on-three powerplay early in the second period. Defenceman Hunter Mayo hammered in the one-timer from the top of the left circle just over three minutes into the frame.
The Rebels had opportunities to take the lead but back-to-back penalties by Red Deer gave Edmonton a two-man advantage with under four minutes to go.
However, Red Deer’s penalty kill came up clutch to keep it a tie game heading into the intermission.
Despite that an early checking to the head penalty by Frantsek Formanek put the Oil Kings on the man advantage seconds into the period.
The Oil Kings reclaimed the lead two minutes into the final period on the powerplay. Forward Smyth Rebman knocked in a rebound in front of the net.
The Rebels pushed for the tying goal but were unable to find it.
They certainly didn’t make it easier on themselves by taking a costly hooking penalty with three minutes to go. Once they killed the penalty the Rebels only had a minute left to tie it but Rebman potted the empty netter.
Frustrations boiled over at the end of the game. Both Kai Uchacz and Hunter Mayo were given 10-minute game misconducts with less than a second to go in the game for roughing up their opponents. Forward Kalan Lind was also given a two-minute cross-checking penalty.
“It’s a game, it’s a man’s sport. You’ve got to go to the net. You’re going to get your nose dirty and you’re going to get bloody,” Walser added.
“They played like men in front of their net and we were too busy complaining about it versus manning up and competing with them.”
The Rebels will now head to Edmonton on Saturday for a rematch with the Oil Kings at Rogers Arena at 7 p.m. Red Deer will then return home on Monday to take on the Lethbridge Hurricanes at 2 p.m.
“Edmonton came and played and they played hard. You respect them they stuck to their system. We’ve got to make sure we man up and make sure we’re on our toes ready to go tomorrow.”
