Rebels 2 Blades 1
The Red Deer Rebels needed every second of Tuesday’s game to secure a victory over the Saskatoon Blades.
Red Deer had the home crowd on the edge of their seat at the Centrium throughout the game and the home side narrowly managed to hang on for their first home win of the 2019-20 WHL campaign.
Ethan Anders stood on his head as the Rebels were outshot 15-3 in the final frame and helped them produce a 2-1 victory over the Blades.
“It was an awesome character win for us. The game got tight, it got close and the way we were able to come together and get the win, it was awesome,” said defence Ethan Sakowich, who was first star and had the game-winning goal for the Rebels.
Saskatoon felt as though they had the tying goal on two occasions in the final four minutes of the game.
On the first, Scott Walford appeared to beat Anders with a wrist shot from the point, only to have it waved off by the official. After a review, it was determined a Blades’ player interfered with the Rebels’ netminder.
With 1:34 to play, the Blades celebrated like they had tied the game again. This time, they high-sticked a puck that was just above the net, then it hit Anders in the back and bounced in. It was also waved off immediately and didn’t count after a review.
“It wasn’t as tense as you think. We kept it good on the bench, nice and light. It was just awesome how the guys reacted, we could have been down in the dumps after they scored the two goals. We stuck to our game and got the win,” Sakowich said.
Anders was also clutch in the victory, turning aside 34 of 35 shots in the win including stopping all 15 shots he faced in the third.
Sakowich said the netminder is truly the backbone of the club and gives them a chance to win every night.
“He was unbelievable again. He’s always one of our best players every game, night in and night out. He gives us a chance to win every night,” added the Rebels veteran 20-year-old blueliner.
To start the night, it was the Rebels rolling early in the opening frame. Arshdeep Bains found the back of the net to open the scoring for the home side. Bains’ power play tally was his first of the year and the Rebels third straight game with a goal on the man advantage.
Just under four minutes into the second, Riley McKay struck for the Blades. The left-winger went hard to the net and beat the Rebels’ defence, before Aidan De La Gorgendiere fired a pass for a McKay tap in.
Red Deer’s power play then struck for a second time on the night midway through the second, when Skaowich buried with 17 seconds left on an Aidan De La Gorgendiere slashing minor. Josh Tarzwell hit the 20-year-old in stride and Sakowich fired a perfect shot short side on Nolan Maier.
“I closed my eyes if I’m being honest with you,” Sakowich said of his goal.
“It was awesome, seeing the guys get that happy for me, I don’t do that too often, it was pretty cool.”
The Rebels power play finished the night two-for-four and they also killed off all three penalties in the contest. It was a key part of the victory.
“We’ve been working on our power play, it always has to establish shots… we got playing one-on-one on our power play instead of moving pucks and getting pucks through. In the second our power play was better again,” Sutter said.
“Our PK was good. We went with four forwards and four D on it. There weren’t a lot of penalties on our side. It allowed us to shorten the bench with our PKers. Guys that you rely on to kill penalties.”
Three stars: Ethan Sakowich (1), Kyle Crnkovic (2), Mason Ward (3)
The Rebels travel to Swift Current Friday to take on the Broncos and then Saturday are in Medicine Hat to face the Tigers.
Email sports tips to Byron Hackett
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