By Dan Hermanutz

Sunday (not so) fun day

Rebels lose 5-2 to Calgary, again

Jan 26, 2020 | 7:57 PM

The Red Deer Rebels hit the southbound QE2 to Calgary on Sunday for the second game of a home-and-home series versus the Hitmen.

Last night the Hitmen left the Centrium with two points on the strength of a 5-2 victory, and that’s exactly what happened again Sunday in Cowtown as the Hitmen skated to another three goal win at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

The first period saw no goals by either side as both goaltenders, Byron Fancy for Red Deer and Brayden Peters for Calgary, were solid following a somewhat tepid start to the game. The Rebels outshot Calgary 7-4 in the first frame.

The Hitmen opened the scoring 1:02 into the second period as Dakota Krebs picked up his first goal of the season with a bullet of a shot pat Fancy. Vancouver Canucks draft pick Jett Woo picked up another assist, adding to his two points in last night’s contest. Goaltender Peters also picked up an assist on the goal.

The game was 2-0 five minutes later after Riley Stotts beat Fancy top shelf for his 22^nd goal of the year. Marc Kastelic and Woo set up the tally.

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The Rebels cut their deficit in half just over a minute later when forward Zak Smith scored his 10^th goal of the year, with Josh Tarzwell and Joel Sexsmith getting the assists.

But just when you thought the Rebels were making a comeback, the Hitmen restored their two goal lead just 38 seconds later when Riley Fiddler-Schultz scored his fifth goal.

It was 4-1 after Calgary forward Orca Weisblatt scored his 16^th of the year on a wraparound past Fancy 35 seconds into period three. A mere 34 seconds later, Josh Prokop scored on a one-timer for his 12^th goal of the season and a 5-2 Hitmen lead.

The Rebels put another goal on the board late in the third when Rebels rookie Jayden Grubbe scored his fifth of the year on a beautiful shot off the crossbar. Red Deer native Keaton Sorenson, celebrating his 18^th birthday, had the lone assist on what was the final goal of the game.

The Hitmen outshot the Rebels 30-25 on the afternoon while both teams were 0-for-2 on the powerplay.

Red Deer now sits at 15-25-2-3 on the year. Calgary improves to 25-15-4-1.

These two teams will meet again next Saturday in Calgary. But before then Rebels play again Wednesday as the Brandon Wheat Kings visit the Westerner Park Centrium. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.