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The Red Deer Rebels' Kai Uchacz scores a shorthanded goal on Medicine Hat Tigers' goaltender Beckett Langkow during their Friday night game at the Peavey Mart Centrium. (Red Deer Rebels/Rob Wallator)
Three game weekend

Rebels lose 3-2 in shootout against the Tigers

Nov 25, 2022 | 11:22 PM

At the start of a three game weekend, the Red Deer Rebels lost 3-2 in a shootout against the Medicine Hat Tigers at the Peavey Mart Centrium Friday night.

The Rebels were decked out in Spongebob Squarepants themed jerseys on a Nickelodeon Night for the Children’s Miracle Network, raising funds for local children’s hospitals in Western Canada.

Early in the first period, the Tigers’ Oasiz Wiesblatt was sent to the box for cross checking. On the ensuing power play, the Rebels’ Talon Brigley fired a wrist shot high glove side on Medicine Hat goaltender Beckett Langkow, scoring his third goal of the season, assisted by Jace Weir and Craig Armstrong at 6:03 to make it 1-0 Red Deer.

The roles reversed when Red Deer’s Ollie Josephson was given a tripping penalty. Less than 10 seconds later at 12:42, Medicine Hat’s Tyler MacKenzie scored his ninth goal of the season on Rebels netminder Kyle Kelsey. The power play goal was assisted by Brendan Lee and Andrew Basha, tying the game 1-1.

After 20 minutes of play, the Tigers outshot the Rebels 13-7.

In the middle frame, the Rebels’ Carson Birnie was given a minor penalty for checking to the head. But that was no challenge for Kai Uchacz when he intercepted a pass in the neutral zone, scoring his third shorthanded goal of the season on a breakaway. The goal came at 2:26 and was Uchacz’s 17th of the season, unassisted, and putting the home team back in the lead 2-1.

Both teams made 12 shots on goal in the second period for a two period total of 25-19 in favour of the Tigers to that point.

In the final period, the Tigers’ Brendan Lee made his 14th goal of the season, assisted by Andrew Basha, at 15:39. The game was once again tied, this time 2-2.

Red Deer had an opportunity to regain control of the game when Dwayne Jean Jr. drew a penalty shot with just 3:58 left in the period. However, it was stopped by goalie Beckett Langkow, sending the game to overtime.

By the end of the third period, the Tigers outshot the Rebels 14-9 for a three period total of 39-28 in favour of the Tigers.

Medicine Hat went 1/5 on the power play while Red Deer went 1/4 with the man advantage.

No goals were scored in overtime with each team taking three shots on net, forcing the game to a shootout.

Final shots on goal finished 42-31 for the Tigers.

In the shootout, the first round brought a goal for Medicine Hat when Brendan Lee scored on Rebels netminder Kyle Kelsey. However, the Rebels’ Dwayne Jean Jr. missed the mark on Medicine Hat goaltender Beckett Langkow. In the second round, both Andrew Basha for the Tigers and Kai Uchacz for the Rebels scored for their teams. But in the third round, Medicine Hat’s Oasiz Wiesblatt scored, winning the game 3-2.

The third star of the game went to Rebels goaltender Kyle Kelsey for his 1.85 goals against average and .952 save percentage. The second star was awarded to the Tigers’ Tyler MacKenzie who scored once on the evening while the Rebels’ Kai Uchacz earned the first star for his shorthanded goal.

Despite the loss, the Rebels maintain their first place position in the Central Division standings with a record of 16-4-0-3 while the win brings the Tigers to fourth place in the Central at 8-10-4-1.

The Rebels will next play the Prince Alberta Raiders Saturday night at the Peavey Mart Centrium, once again at 7 p.m. with the broadcast live on 106.7 REWIND Radio.