Road Trip Ends With Win In Red Deer
Moose Jaw’s three games in three day weekend road trip ended with a tight 4-3 win over the Red Deer Rebels Sunday in Central Alberta.
The teams stormed out of the gates, the pace was quick and the chances were plenty as they combined for 23 shots.
Moose Jaw opened the scoring at 4:21 when Jack Rodewald cashed in on a rebound on the power play. Red Deer responded with a goal from Vukie Mpofu three minutes later, the Saskatoon 17-year-old finished off a nice passing play inside the Warrior line.
Back on the power play at the midway point the Warriors attacked the Red Deer net, just as the Rebels penalty ended Brayden Point dished the puck Rodewald who spun off the left goal line and cut in front of the net where he scored his second of the period and 12th of the year.
Once again the Rebels were able to respond, Matt Bellerive covered on a Red Deer power play with 29 seconds remaining in the period to even the game at two.
Moose Jaw opened the second period on the power play but the Rebels were strong the penalty kill, neutralizing the Warriors attack. 54 seconds after having the man advantage Rodewald and Point set up Tanner Eberle along the Rebel right goal line, his ninth of the year gave the Warriors their third lead in the game.
Red Deer had a 14-13 advantage on the shot clock in the second period, Justin Paulic made big save after big save to keep the Warriors lead. The most notable opportunity for the Rebels was a breakaway for Wyatt Johnson, however Paulic came up with a blocker save on the play.
Haydn Fleury ended the second by taking a holding call, putting Moose Jaw back on the power play to start the third. 50 seconds into the period Rodewald scored his hat trick goal to make it 4-2.
Approaching the midway point of the period the Warriors got into penalty problems, leading to a two-man advantage for the Rebels. Bellerive bounced a puck from the left goal line to the front of the net where Lukas Sutter chipped it past Paulic to make it a one-goal game.
Both teams pressed in the final moments, the Warriors had a power play in the final four minutes but weren’t able to increase their lead. Red Deer had a power play in the final ninety seconds, they pulled their goalie for a 6-on-4 attack, and the Warriors battled hard and held on for the win.
Jack Rodewald had a hat trick and four points, Brayden Point picked up three assists, Travis Brown had two assists, and Justin Paulic made 36 saves. Moose Jaw finished 2-for-7 on the power play while Red Deer was 2-for-6.
The Warriors will make the long trip home after the game, they’ll take Monday off to recover from the road trip, and Tuesday they’ll be back at Mosaic Place for practice. Their next game is Friday at home for a rematch with the Rebels.
Moose Jaw Starters: G-Justin Paulic, D-Kirk Johnson & Travis Brown, LW-Tanner Eberle, C-Brayden Point, RW-Jack Rodewald
Moose Jaw Scratches: Sam Fioretti, Spenser Jensen, Miles Warkentine, Brandon Potomak, Zachary Sawchenko
Red Deer Starters: G-Patrik Bartosak, D-Brady Gaudet & Kayle Doetzel, LW-Grayson Pawlenchuk, C-Lukas Sutter, RW-Wyatt Johnson
Red Deer Scratches: Dominik Volek, Meyer Nell, Brooks Maxwell, Christian Stockl, Adam Musil, Presten Kopeck