By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

so close

Rebels let win slip out of their fingertips in Regina

Oct 13, 2023 | 10:23 PM

The Red Deer Rebels had a win well within their grasp, but let it slip away in what was ultimately a 4-3 shootout victory for the Regina Pats on Friday.

The teams met for the first time this young WHL season, Red Deer 2-3-0-0 coming in, with the Bedard-less Pats at 4-3-1-0.

Last season, Red Deer went 2-1-1-0 against Regina, who at the time did have the now Chicago Blackhawk Connor Bedard.

Scoring summary

Regina drew first blood in this one when Tanner Howe (6th) scored on the power play at 10:47 of the opening frame.

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It was 1-0 Pats after 20 minutes.

Red Deer then scored the lone goal of the second at 9:18 as Czechia forward Samuel Drancak (1st) got his first career WHL goal.

The score was 1-1 after 40.

The third is where things got hot and heavy.

Rebels blueliner Mats Lindgren (2nd) gave the visitors the lead at 2:44, then Drancak (2nd) extended the lead to 3-1 just 35 seconds later.

Then Regina’s special teams showed their worth.

At 10:33, Braxton Whitehead (4th) scored on the power play, and at the 13:00 mark, Howe (7th) notched one while short handed, sending the game to overtime where the teams failed to come to a resolution.

In the shootout, Regina took the first attempt, with Tanner Howe missing. Kai Uchacz then scored to give Red Deer the advantage.

Borya Valis scored for Regina and Kalan Lind missed for Red Deer, and things were even.

Zackary Shantz and Talon Brigley both missed in the final regulation round of the shootout.

And to close it out, Braxton Whitehead scored the eventual winner on Kyle Kelsey, before Frantisek Formanek failed to get the puck past goaltender Ewan Huet.

The final score: 4-3 Pats.

Between the pipes

RD: Kyle Kelsey — 17/20 saves, 1-2-0-1

REG: Ewan Huet — 36/39 saves, 2-2-0-0

Shots

RD: 39

REG: 21

Power play

RD: 0/6

REG: 2/4

Three stars

1st: Tanner Howe (REG) — 2G, 1A

2nd: Ewan Huet (REG) — 36 saves

3rd: Samuel Drancak (RD) — 2G

Up next for the Red Deer Rebels are two straight visits to Rogers Place in Edmonton to face the Oil Kings. Edmonton beat Red Deer 4-2 in the teams’ season opener on Sept. 22 in Red Deer.

They’ll meet Oct. 15 at 4 p.m., and then Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. Red Deer is then in Lethbridge on Oct. 20 for a 7 p.m. start, and return home on Oct. 21 for a highly anticipated grudge match of sorts versus Saskatoon.

Game broadcasts can be heard live on 106.7 REWIND Radio, 10 minutes before puck drop for away games and 30 minutes before for home games.