Rebels blank Oil Kings for third win in last four games
Rebels 4 Oil Kings 0
EDMONTON — The Red Deer Rebels didn’t leave head coach Derrick Walser with many — make that any — negative vibes following Tuesday’s 4-0 Western Hockey League win over the Edmonton Oil Kings.
“Our first two periods were really good and we had to be happy with the guys and how they battled tonight,” said Walser, following the contest viewed by 3,646 fans at Rogers Place.
Indeed, it was a stellar, all around solid performance by the visitors.
“The penalty kill was good, the power play was good, our goaltending was good,” said Walser. “It was a complete team effort tonight.”
Carson Latimer scored the only goal the Rebels needed, connecting from the low slot early in the opening period.
Talon Brigley made it 2-0 late in the second period, converting Carson Birnie’s feed from behind the net, and captain Kai Uchacz piled on just 16 seconds later, scoring his fourth of the season from the top of the left circle.
Jhett Larson, with Red Deer on the power play, notched his second of the season at 11:22 of the third period courtesy of a back door pass by Ollie Josephson.
The win was the Rebels’ second in succession and third in their last four games, boosting the team’s record to 4-3-0-1 in the process.
“We stayed disciplined tonight, that was one of the keys — stay out of the (penalty) box and let’s grind this game down,” said Walser.
The Rebels appear to be on track after a somewhat slow start to the season.
“Sometimes it takes a couple wins and trust in what we’re preaching (as coaches),” said Walser. “It can take time for guys to buy in.
“Right now it’s working and again, there’s always something to work on in hockey. You’re never going to be perfect so just try and get better each day.”
The Rebels are idle until Friday when they’ll be in Lethbridge to face the Hurricanes.
The Saskatoon Blades, who rebounded from a 3-0 series deficit to defeat the Rebels in an Eastern Conference semifinal last spring, will visit the Peavey Mart Centrium Saturday.
“We’ll just worry about Lethbridge first, that’s our next opponent,” said Walser. “Don’t look too far ahead.”
Notable: Rhett Stoesser stopped all 29 shots he faced to record his third shutout of his WHL career. It was his first start since Feb. 11 . . . Logan Cunningham made 28 saves for Edmonton . . . The three stars: (1) Stoesser, (2) Latimer (Gordie Howe Hat Trick), and (3) Oil Kings winger Landon Hanson . . . Red Deer was two-for-eight on the power play, the Oil Kings zero-for-five.
(Photo by Andy Devlin)
