Rebels rally late but fall short in 3-2 loss to Chiefs
RED DEER – The Red Deer Rebels hit the ice with renewed energy and urgency against the Spokane Chiefs, falling just short in a 3-2 loss Saturday night at the Marchant Crane Centrium.
Landon MacSwain stayed hot with a powerplay goal, his third tally in as many games, while captain Talon Brigley found the net in the final seconds, notching his 100th career WHL point.
“It was much better. If we played like this last night we probably win going away. I liked everything about it except the score,” said Rebels head coach Marc Habscheid.
With the result, the Rebels drop to 2-8-0-0 on the season. Spokane improves to 6-4-0-0.
STATS STORY:
Sam Oremba (SPO): 2 goals
Landon MacSwain (RD): 1 goal
Talon Brigley (RD): 1 goal, 100th WHL career point
Linus Vieillard (SPO): 22 saves
Chase Wutzke (RD): 18 saves
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Midway through the first period, the Chiefs were first on the board when a loose puck slipped through Rebels goaltender Chase Wutzke, allowing Sam Oremba to tap it in.
Red Deer responded in the second when Derek Thurston connected with Jaxon Fuder on the powerplay, who unleashed a one-timer on Chiefs netminder Linus Vieillard. The rebound bounced off Landon MacSwain and into the net, tying the score 1–1.
The even split lasted 10 minutes before Spokane’s Coco Armstrong found Chase Harrington open in the slot for the go-ahead goal, giving the visitors a 2-1 leading heading into the third.
Oremba struck again in the final frame, converting on a shorthanded penalty shot to extend Spokane’s lead to 3-1.
With Wutzke on the bench for an extra attacker, the Rebels capitalized on a last-minute powerplay. Beckett Hamilton threaded a perfect pass through the crease to the backdoor, where captain Talon Brigley tapped it in for his team leading fourth goal of the season and 100th career point.
Unfortunately, that’s as close as the Rebels would get as Spokane ran out the final seconds for a one-goal win.
Shots were limited on both sides, with Wutzke facing 21 and Vieillard seeing 24. Red Deer went 2-for-6 on the power play, while holding Spokane 0-for-2.
WHAT THEY SAID
Marc Habscheid
Talon Brigley
BRANDT THREE STARS:
1. Oremba (SPO)
2. MacSwain (RD)
3. Armstrong (SPO)
NEXT UP:
Eastbound and down for the Rebels as they head to Moose Jaw to face the Warriors at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 21.
