(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

searching for a win

Cam Hausinger gets Gordie Howe hat-trick in loss to Lethbridge

Jan 18, 2020 | 3:34 PM

The Red Deer Rebels (14-23-2-3) have a stiff test waiting for them Saturday night in the Prince Albert Raiders (23-14-5-2).

But if we’re to look at it from a glass half full perspective, one could say the Rebels are due for a big win. Red Deer has lost four in a row, including last night in Lethbridge (26-10-2-5) where they fell 4-3 in overtime.

In that stretch, they were outscored 20-5, and you have to go back to the first game of that five-stop road swing to find the Rebels’ last win.

Coincidentally, it came against the Raiders in a 6-5 OT effort, and that was the second time Red Deer had beaten the high-flying team from PA this season. They also won 3-2 on the road on Nov. 9, but lost 7-1 at home 11 nights later.

In Lethbridge on Friday, Cam Hausinger (9th) got the party started at the 12:22 mark of the opening period to put Red Deer up 1-0. Then who else but former Rebel Brett Davis (12th) — a trade deadline acquisition — tied things up at 16:43.

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At 6:44 of the second, Jayden Grubbe (4th) put the Rebels back on top with a powerplay goal, and Hausinger getting the assist.

But the Hurricanes would score twice before the period was out; first Calen Addison (8th) at 9:13, and Ty Prefontaine (2nd) at 15:46.

Down 3-2 to start the third period, Red Deer needed a spark and got it in the form of Josh Tarzwell (20th). The Red Deer native and 2015 Hurricanes bantam draft pick now has 26 points, two shy of a career high.

In OT, Alex Colton sealed the two points for Lethbridge just 1:52 into the 3-on-3 contest.

Cam Hausinger was named third star with one goal and two assists and four shots. He also got five minutes for fighting in the third, giving him the Gordie Howe hat-trick.

Byron Fancy (8-11-2-1) stopped 32 of 36 shots, while Bryan Thomson made 31 saves for the win.

With 30 games left on the calendar, the Rebels sit 12 points back of Saskatoon for the second Eastern Conference wild card playoff spot, and just two points ahead of Regina. Red Deer is 2-6-2-0 in their past 10, while Prince Albert is an uncharacteristic 3-4-2-1.

The Rebels go at it versus the Raiders Saturday night at the Westerner Park Centrium with puck drop at 7 p.m. The broadcast will be LIVE on 106.7 The Drive starting at 6:30.