(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Alessia Proietti

stymied

Rebels remain second in division after shutout loss to Oil Kings

Feb 11, 2022 | 11:05 PM

In a highly anticipated game, the Red Deer Rebels battled for first place in the Central Division against the Edmonton Oil Kings, but ultimately lost 4-0 at the Peavey Mart Centrium Friday evening.

Coming in, each team had played 46 games, with Red Deer sitting six points back of Edmonton. Through five games this season head-to-head, Red Deer had earned six of ten possible points against their rival.

The Oil Kings got off to a quick start in the first period with Justin Sourdif scoring at 5:42 against Rebels goaltender Connor Ungar. His 12^th goal this season was assisted by Simon Kubicek.

The period ended 1-0 Edmonton.

In the second, the teams each had one power play opportunity, but went scoreless, leaving the visitors up 1-0 headed to the third.

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Hoping for a comeback, Red Deer couldn’t put things together in the third.

The final period saw Edmonton score three times, first Tyler Horstmann scoring his first of the season at 8:26, with an assist from Jalen Luypen.

At 15:13, Sourdif scored once again, his second on the night and 13th of the season, with assists by Dylan Guenther and Jake Neighbours.

The Rebels did have a late chance on the man advantage after a too many men penalty against Edmonton, but failed to capitalize despite pulling Ungar from the net.

This left the empty net vulnerable with Edmonton able to ice it, and Kaiden Guhle took advantage, notching the 4-0 dagger at 17:56.

After 60 minutes, Edmonton had outshot Red Deer 37-21. Neither team scored on the power play, Red Deer going 0/5 and Edmonton 0/3.

The third star was Edmonton’s Dylan Guenther with one assist, second star was Red Deer’s Jackson van de Leest, while first star went to the two-goal scorer Justin Sourdif, who added one assist.

Each team now has 21 games remaining, with Edmonton ahead of Red Deer by eight points. Red Deer is 18 points clear, however, of third place Calgary.

Rebels coach Steve Konowalchuk admitted his team struggled from the get-go.

“Obviously, in the first period we did not play the way we needed to play…different reasons for different players,” he said. “We have to have a game plan when we get the puck. We were getting the puck and we weren’t skating and we were trying to figure out what to do with it when we got it. That’s not how we normally do it.”

Despite the disappointment, he believes the loss can be a valuable learning experience.

“I hope it doesn’t sit well with our guys. I hope they’re in there not feeling too good and they learn from it,” said Konowalchuk.

“There’s a lot of hockey left and we have to learn from it. It’s a bit of a character check. [We’ll see] how bad some guys want it. I know we have good character in there; I’ve believed in the character all year.”

The Rebels game against the Oil Kings at Rogers Place on Feb. 15 has been postponed. Their next game is now Friday, Feb, 18 against Saskatoon from the Centrium. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. with the broadcast live on 106.7 REWIND Radio starting at 6:30.