Americans takedown Rebels 7-2 for 11th win in a row
By Xander Holcomb – Coming up against the hottest team in the Western Hockey League did not go well for the Red Deer Rebels Saturday night.
In a feisty affair at the Toyota Center in Kennewick, Washington, the Rebels fell 7-2 to the Tri-City Americans, who earned their 11th win in a row.
This one got away from the Rebels early as the Americans held a 4-1 lead through a wild opening period featuring multiple skirmishes between the two clubs, and never looked back.
Despite six powerplay opportunities and 49 shots on goal, the Rebels were unable to keep pace with their hosts.
STATS STORY:
Brandon Whynott (TC) – 2G, 1A
Carter MacAdams (TC) – 3A
Cohen Poulin (RD) – 1G, +1
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Tri-City opened the scoring as Brandon Whynott tucked home a rebound past Rebels netminder Rhett Stoesser for his 10th goal of the season 6:20 into the opening period.
Grady Martin doubled the lead for the Americans less than four minutes later as he snapped his first goal of the season past the glove of Stoesser halfway through the period.
Only two minutes after that, Samuel Drancak cut the Red Deer deficit in half. With 9:29 to go in the first, Drancak cut down the left wing and beat Americans goaltender Nathan Preston through the five-hole for his second tally of the year.
Perfectly placed! pic.twitter.com/BJFofWoBVY
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) November 10, 2024
The Rebels came out of a five-on-five melee with a late first period power play only to see the Americans score shorthanded, twice, as Jake Sloan and Whynott scored just 21 seconds apart for a 4-1 Tri-City lead through 20.
Cohen Poulin brought the Rebels within a pair late in the second frame as he took a pass from Beckett Hamilton, walked down the right wing, and beat Preston with a shot off the post to the far side making it 4-2.
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) November 10, 2024
But just 50 seconds later, Chase Wutzke, who entered the game in relief of Stoesser after the opening period, was victimized by a bizarre puck bounce off the top of the Rebels net, then off his leg and in to restore a three-goal lead for the Americans after 40 minutes of play.
Tri-City made it 6-2 5:11 into the third period as Jordan Gavin scored his seventh goal of the campaign off a back-door pass from Jake Sloan.
Jake Gudelj extended his goal streak to five games and rounded out the scoring on the night midway through the final frame.
THREE STARS:
1 – Brandon Whynott (TC) – 2G, 1A
2 – Nathan Preston (TC) – 47 saves, Win
3 – Carter Savage (TC) – 3A
NEXT UP:
The Rebels continue their U.S. road trip with a stop in Everett on Monday, Nov. 11 to battle the league leading Silvertips. Puck drop goes at 8:05 MT 106.7 REWIND Radio and CHL TV.
