By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Rebels’ win streak snapped in heartbreaking loss to Blades

Oct 12, 2018 | 10:03 PM

Six wins in a row was within reach, but it simply was not meant to be for the Red Deer Rebels who lost 3-2 in overtime to Saskatoon on Friday night.

The Rebels had put together a five-game stretch of impressive victories after dropping their first two outings of the season to Edmonton.

On this night though, Blades forward Max Gerlach was the hero scoring with 16 seconds remaining in the third period and then 3:44 into OT cap off a hat trick performance and give Saskatoon the win.

The Rebels got on the board early with Oleg Zaytsev notching his fourth of the season just 51 seconds into the first period.

Gerlach tied the game on the powerplay at 7:10 of the middle frame.

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Jeff de Wit scored 3:40 later to regain the lead for Red Deer with his sixth goal of the season and second point of the night.

Alex Morozoff had a chance to seal the win for the Rebels but was denied on a penalty shot by Blades goalie Nolan Maier late in the third period, leaving the door open for Gerlach’s heroics.

The three goals for Gerlach give him seven on the season and a tie for second in the early season WHL scoring race.

For the Rebels, Ethan Anders (4-2) made 34 saves on 37 shots faced. Nolan Maier stopped 23 of 25 at the Blades’ end of the rink.

Jeff de Wit’s goal and assist give him a four-game point streak and 10 points on the season in eight games. Oleg Zaytsev, the newcomer from Moscow, increased his point total to seven, including four goals, and also has points in his last four.

Brandon Hagel, who was leading the league in points as recently as last weekend, was held pointless Friday, but sits eighth in league scoring with 14 points, eight behind the leader, Joachim Blichfeld of the Portland Winterhawks.

The Rebels (5-2-1) sit atop the Central Division and face the Prince Albert Raiders (8-1) Saturday night on the road. The Raiders’ only loss this season came last Saturday in Red Deer when the Rebels beat them in a nail-biter 4-3.

Saturday’s game can be heard LIVE on 106.7 The Drive starting at 6:50 p.m.