(Photo: Rob Wallator)

By Dan Hermanutz

41 saves

Anders slams the door, Rebels blank Hitmen 3-0

Feb 9, 2020 | 10:25 AM

The 2019-20 season hasn’t exactly gone according to plan for Ethan Anders.

He’s missed extended time due to injury and at one point went two months without a win, but Saturday night the Pilot Butte, SK showed everyone why he’s a starting goalie in the WHL in posting a 41-save shutout of the Calgary Hitmen at the Westerner Park Centrium.

“Our goalie was the best player on the ice,” said Rebels GM/head coach Brent Sutter. “When Calgary was applying the pressure late in the game, Anders was there to step up and close the door. That makes two games in two nights where he played great and was lights out.”

It was just the second win for the Rebels in six games against the Hitmen this season. Red Deer had been outscored 15-4 and beaten three times by Calgary since Jan. 25 alone.

The Rebels opened the scoring in the game’s opening minute as Ben King tipped home his 14^th goal of the year past Hitmen goalie Jack McNaughton just 46 seconds in.

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Midway through the first, Dakota Krebs took exception to a heavy hit from Red Deer’s Cam Hausinger, sparking a fight.

More fisticuffs followed early in the second period when Dallon Melin threw a big check, drawing the attention of Calgary forward Conrad Mitchell. The two went toe-to-toe, each getting five for fighting, and Melin earning an extra two for charging.

Neither team scored in the second period, meaning Red Deer was looking to not cough up another late-game lead as they did in their previous two contests.

Melin stripped a Calgary d-man of the puck then promptly put it by McNaughton for a 2-0 Rebels lead at the 7:01 mark of the period.

Then, with just 3:04 remaining, Cam Hausinger sealed the deal by intercepting a pass and beating McNaughton short side from an impossible angle for his 10^th goal of the year.

“You look at our last two games we played before tonight; we lost the games in the last minute. (Tonight) we stayed with it and found a way,” said Sutter.

Anders (9-15-0-2), who earned his fourth career shutout, stopped 41 pucks, topping his previous career best of 34 saves.

“Definitely a big sigh of relief for me,” said Anders. “I felt awesome, now I just have to keep it going for the rest of the season.”

Calgary was stumped on four powerplay opportunities, while Red Deer failed to capitalize on two man advantages.

McNaughton turned aside 15 of the 18 Rebels shots on goal he faced.

The Rebels (18-28-2-3) now head out on a five-game road trip through British Columbia, starting with the Victoria Royals (28-18-4-1) on Tuesday, Feb. 11. Puck drop is at 8:05 p.m. MT with the broadcast LIVE on 106.7 The Drive.