By Dan Hermanutz

cursed

Rebels thrashed by Hitmen for third time in recent memory

Feb 1, 2020 | 5:34 PM

The Red Deer Rebels headed south to Calgary on Saturday for their third meeting with the Hitmen in eight days.

The Rebels lost last Saturday and Sunday, 5-2 each time, and dropped another result 5-0 on the third go-round.

Calgary opened the scoring 1:40 in when Dakota Krebs rushed the Rebels crease during a two-on-one before dishing it to Connor Gabruch (5th) who tapped it home.

The Hitmen turned up the heat in the second, outshooting the Rebels 11-4. Rebels rookie Jayden Grubbe had a solid chance on a breakaway but couldn’t beat Calgary netminder Jack McNaughton.

On a powerplay chance late in the middle frame, Carson Focht (23rd) was given too much time at the top of the circle and fired the puck left corner past Ethan Anders.

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Focht (24th) found the back of the net again just before the seven-minute mark of the third period to make it 3-0.

The Rebels hole got even deeper at 13:08 when the Hitmen hemmed Red Deer into their zone. Jackson van de Leest (2nd) fired a slapshot from the point that got my multiple defenders and Anders.

The barrage didn’t stop there, as van de Leest (3rd) scored again just 94 seconds later, adding salt to the wound and putting the final nail in the coffin.

Jack McNaughton (15-5-1-1) picked up his third career shutout (and first this season) for Calgary stopping 14 shots, while Ethan Anders (8-14-0-2) made 23 saves for Red Deer.

Red Deer is now 1-8-1-0 in their last ten on the road, and 3-6-1-0 in their last ten overall. They are 1-4-0-0 against Calgary this season and play them three more times.

The Rebels return to the Westerner Park Centrium on Wednesday night when the Lethbridge Hurricanes come to town. You can listen to the broadcast LIVE on 106.7 the Drive starting at 6:30 p.m.