Wednesday Night in the Dub: Rebels edge rival Blades in comeback shootout victory
Saskatoon, Sask.- It took a five-round shootout, but the Red Deer Rebels edged the rival Saskatoon Blades in Wednesday Night in the Dub action.
The back-and-forth affair saw Red Deer score three straight third-period goals to take their first lead of the night, but the home team found a late equalizer to earn a single point.
Despite the shootout loss, the Blades are still undefeated in regulation at the SaskTel Centre this season with a 10-0-1-1 home record.
Saskatoon wasted no time getting going as alternate captain Tyler Pass helped Captain Ben Saunderson burst past the Red Deer defenders on the rush and feed Brandon Lisowsky for a tap-in goal just 16 seconds into the frame.
THAT DIDN’T TAKE LONG 😱
Brandon Lisowsky tallies just 16 seconds into this one!#WHLWednesday | @BladesHockey
Watch | https://t.co/7vlArCenaa pic.twitter.com/ANlSZ0KOtc
— The WHL (@TheWHL) December 5, 2024
The early tally marks the 250th career WHL point for Lisowsky.
Lisowsky, a Toronto Maple Leafs prospect, quickly added his 251st point by capitalizing on a Rebels turnover in their own zone and dishing to Ben Riche for a point-blank goal on Minnesota Wild draft pick Chase Wutzke.
The offensive outburst prompted a time-out from Rebels Head Coach Dave Struch, which paid off quickly with rookie Beckett Hamilton- a Saskatoon product- getting the visitors on the board with his seventh of the season in his first WHL game in his hometown.
Saskatoon would be the lone goal of the second period as Lukas Hansen capitalized off of a strong play out of the corner.
But the Rebels wouldn’t go quietly into the night.
Nashville Predators prospect Kalan Lind got his Rebels back within one with a powerplay blast early in the final frame.
Kalan Lind snipes it and we’ve got a one-goal game! 🚀#WHLWednesday | @Rebelshockey | #Smashville
WATCH | https://t.co/7vlArCenaa pic.twitter.com/KQQH5JXvlB— The WHL (@TheWHL) December 5, 2024
Finally, in a scrambled play off of a draw in the Blades’ end, the puck squeaked out to veteran defenceman Hunter Mayo for a precision shot in the slot.
The Red Deer alternate captain has already matched his goal total from 2023-24 with his 10th goal tonight.
With less than six minutes remaining in the game, 2025 NHL Draft-eligible forward Matthew Gard took a hit along the boards to feed Derek Thurston for a powerful shot- and Red Deer’s first lead of the night.
But a late holding penalty against the Rebels opened the door for Tyler Parr to swat a loose puck into a yawning cage and force overtime.
THIS GAME 😲
Tyler Parr ties the game and we’re heading to overtime!#WHLWednesday | @BladesHockey
WATCH | https://t.co/7vlArCenaa pic.twitter.com/wqLg1D0EGV— The WHL (@TheWHL) December 5, 2024
Both netminders impressed with stunning saves in the fourth period.
Tanner Molendyk- another Predators prospect- showed off his impressive skating by blowing past the competition in the extra frame, but Wutzke was able to steer the shot aside to prolong the match.
Shortly afterward, McCallum swiftly denied Mayo on a two-on-one Rebels opportunity.
Molendyk was able to draw an interference penalty as he nearly broke away for a third opportunity in overtime, but the Blades were unable to find the game-winner- though Grayden Sieppman did ring a shot off the Red Deer crossbar.
This match was destined for a shootout, with Rebels rookie Jaxon Fuder and Parr both finding the back of the net to force an eventual fifth round.
That’s where Gard capitalized for the game-winner, helping Red Deer improve to 2-0 against Saskatoon this season and picking up a fourth straight victory.
Wutzke, a 2024 fifth-round pick of the Wild, turned aside 29 of 33 shots in the win, while 18-year-old Ethan McCallum stopped 23 of 27.
Red Deer (14-10-1-2) continues its East Division road trip with a match against the Brandon Wheat Kings (12-8-3-1) on Friday, December 6 at 7:00 p.m. CST.
Saskatoon (17-6-1-2) remains atop the Eastern Conference standings and looks to get back in the win column against the rising Calgary Hitmen (13-8-3-1) on Saturday, December 7 at 7:00 p.m. ST.
Wednesday Night in the Dub returns on December 11 as the high-powered Prince George Cougars (13-8-3-2) visit the U.S. Division powerhouse Tri-City Americans (18-6-1-0) for a 7:05 p.m. PST puck drop.
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