Rebels’ special teams key in win over Oil Kings
Rebels 5 Oil Kings 2
EDMONTON — The Red Deer Rebels’ special teams played a major role in Friday’s shootout loss to the host Regina Pats.
In a bad way.
But two days after surrendering two power plays goals and a short-handed marker in the setback at Regina, the Rebels’ special teams reversed course in a 5-2 WHL win over the Edmonton Oil Kings at Rogers Place.
Head coach Derrick Walser credited assistant coaches Clayton Beddoes and Mike Egener for the turnaround with the power play and penalty kill units Sunday afternoon.
“Clay and Egs did a real good job of making adjustments and preparing the players,” said Walser. “Sometime it’s just trying to reset and get players on the same page, and they did an awesome job of preparing the guys today.”
The Rebels notched two goals with a man advantage and scored once while short-handed — the game’s first goal courtesy of Carson Latimer, who pounced on a turnover at the Red Deer blueline, raced down the right side and behind the net and beat goaltender Kolby Hay on a wrap-around.
Latimer’s fourth of the season, a mere 3:05 into the contest, was followed by an Oil Kings tally off the stick of Rilen Kovacevic five minutes later, his wrister from the right circle getting past netminder Chase Wutzke, who appeared to be at least partially screened, high to the glove side.
Latimer restored Red Deer’s lead midway through the period, tipping home a point short by Hunter Mayo with the Rebels enjoying a man advantage.
It doesn't get much better than that😎 pic.twitter.com/FyehiaLTmB
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) October 15, 2023
The Rebels carried the play through most of the scoreless second period before outscoring their hosts 3-1 in the third.
“After the first period I thought we got pretty good into our forecheck, into our structure, and started taking control of the game,” said Walser.
The Rebels grabbed a 3-1 lead with a power play goal 1:08 into the final frame, Carson Birnie scoring from a goalmouth scramble. But the hosts narrowed the deficit to one when Aidan Litke connected with a quick wrister from just inside the blueline.
The Rebels, however, pulled away for good with 2:36 remaining when Frantisek Formanek, from the left circle, spun and beat Hay with a backhand to the far side of the net.
Frantisek Formanek is lethal on the forehand AND backhand!@Rebelshockey pic.twitter.com/BT1ccabJyw
— The WHL (@TheWHL) October 16, 2023
Kai Uchacz capped the evening with an empty net goal in the final minute.
The Rebels finished two-for-four on the power play and erased five Oil Kings power plays, all the while getting a 33-save performance from rookie stopper Wutzke.
“I thought our discipline was pretty good and Wutzke was awesome today,” said Walser.
It was a nice rebound for the 17-year-old who struggled somewhat in a recent 6-2 loss to Prince Albert.
“You always hope for that, you always want to see that,” said Walser. “It wasn’t easy for him. We have three goalies and it’s a fight.
“Give credit to Gordo (goalie coach Ian Gordon). That’s why he’s a goalie guy and we’re happy to have him.”
Notable: The three stars: (1) Latimer, (2) Oil Kings defenceman Marc Lajoie, who recorded an assist for his 100th WHL career point, and (3) Birnie . . . Kalan Lind collected two assists while Uchacz also picked up a helper to join Lind and Latimer as multi-point contributors . . . Attendance was 4,573 . . . The Rebels will be back in Edmonton Tuesday night (7 p.m.) for a fourth engagement with the Oil Kings this season, then will visit the Lethbridge Hurricanes Friday before playing host to the Saskatoon Blades the following night (Saturday, October 21).
(Photo by Andy Devlin)
