Rebels goaltender Connor Ungar covers up the puck during a pile up in his crease. (Red Deer Rebels/Rob Wallator)

By Sheldon Spackman

5-4 OT Loss

Rebels lose overtime heartbreaker to Oil Kings

May 9, 2022 | 11:03 PM

Following back-to-back shutout losses in Edmonton to start their best-of seven WHL playoff series against the Oil Kings, the Red Deer Rebels returned home for Game 3 Monday night and fell just short to one of the league’s top teams, losing 5-4 in overtime.

The loss gives Edmonton a 3-0 series lead before the teams tangle again Wednesday night for Game 4.

Edmonton’s Luke Prokop opened the scoring in the first period, notching his second goal of the playoffs just 1:55 in, with an assist coming from Jaxsen Wiebe to make it 1-0 Oil Kings.

The Rebels responded, however, when Liam Keeler scored his second of the playoffs, beating Oil Kings netminder Sebastian Cossa on the power play, at 9:44 with help from Arshdeep Bains and Ben King to tie it up 1-1. Red Deer’s man advantage followed an interference penalty to Edmonton’s Simon Kubicek at the 9:00 mark.

The period would end tied at one goal apiece and the Oil Kings out shooting Red Deer 10-7 in the opening frame.

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Edmonton would reclaim their lead in the second period when Dylan Guenther earned his seventh goal of the playoffs, scoring at 6:32, with Carter Souch assisting on the play to make it 2-1 Oil Kings.

Souch then scored one of his own, beating Rebels goaltender Connor Ungar at 15:56, on the power play, following a high sticking penalty to Red Deer’s Blake Gustafson at 14:27. Jalen Luypen and Simon Kubicek assisted on the play to make it 3-1 Edmonton.

Then with the period winding down, Red Deer’s Kalan Lind picked up his first of the playoffs at 18:22, with assists from Dallon Melin and Kai Uchacz to close the Oil Kings lead to just one goal.

Edmonton led 3-2 after 40 minutes and outshot the Rebels 19-6, for a two-period total of 29-13 in favour of the Oil Kings.

Then at the 7:38 mark of the third period, Edmonton’s Justin Sourdif scored his second of the playoffs, shorthanded and unassisted, despite teammate Carter Kowaylk being in the box for cross checking, making it 4-2 Oil Kings.

Credit to the Rebels for not packing it in, however, as Arshdeep Bains scored his fourth of the playoffs at 12:50, with assists coming from Kalan Lind and Ben King to make it 4-3 Edmonton.

Then the drama began when the Oil King’s Carter Souch knocked in the puck with a high stick to seemingly make it 5-3 Edmonton. But after a lengthy review, the goal was disallowed and gave new life to Red Deer.

That momentum swing led to the Rebels Jhett Larson capitalizing and chipping the puck in over Oil Kings goalie Sebastian Cossa to suddenly tie the game 4-4. It was Larson’s second goal of the playoffs and a big one no less, with the assist coming from Frantisek Formanek at 13:26, ultimately sending the game to overtime.

Once again, Edmonton outshot Red Deer 16-7 in the third period, for a three-period total of 45-20 in favour of the Oil Kings.

In overtime though, it was Edmonton’s Jake Neighbours who broke the hearts of Rebels fans. He received a stretch pass from Luke Prokop near the Rebels blue line while the home team was on a line change, and he scored on a breakaway, with the puck trickling through Connor Ungar’s five-hole to make it a 5-4 final for the Oil Kings. Edmonton goaltender Sebastian Cossa was also credited with an assist on the game-winning goal.

Rebels head coach Steve Konowalchuk admits, it was a tough loss for the team.

“Going into the game I told the guys we just wanted to make sure that everybody was playing with all the heart and character that we have, and I believe everybody did,” he exclaimed. “Everybody played til the end, they didn’t give up. We had a chance, and you know we get that overtime, we’d be feeling a little bit better.”

“There’s no time to feel sorry for ourselves,” added Konowalchuk. “So we’ll get here tomorrow and we’re just going to look at one game. You know, I thought guys battled and that’s all you can ask for. We have to just be positive and do everything we can to get the next game.”

The Oil Kings outshot the Rebels 7-2 in the extra frame and 52-22 overall.

The three stars went to Edmonton’s Jake Neighbours who was named third star for his game-winning goal, while Red Deer’s Arshdeep Bains was named the game’s second star for his one goal and one assist on the night. The Oil Kings Carter Souch, however, was named the game’s first star for his one goal and one assist on the evening as well.

Game 4 between the Rebels and Oil Kings goes Wednesday, May 11, 7:00 p.m. at the Peavey Mart Centrium. If you can’t attend in person, you can catch all the action live on 106.7 Rewind Radio.