(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Alessia Proietti

One goal away

Rebels again shy of win versus the Giants in west-coast road trip

Nov 8, 2023 | 10:43 PM

The Red Deer Rebels were once again just shy of a win (4-3) on Wednesday night against the Vancouver Giants at the Langley Events Centre.

The match-up marks their fifth road game to the west coast and fourth in British Columbia.

Both teams missed some power play opportunities in the first period, leaving the scoreboard untouched. Red Deer was slightly outshooting Vancouver 9-7 after 20 minutes.

In the middle frame, the Rebels’ Frantisek Formanek opened the scoring at 13:47 with a goal in front of the crease on Giants goaltender Brett Mirwald. Assisted by Kai Uchacz, his fourth goal of the season put the team in a 1-0 position.

However, with Red Deer’s Jhett Larson getting sent to the box for a boarding penalty right after, Vancouver’s Tyler Thorpe capitalized on the power play. Scoring at 14:17 on Rebels netminder Rhett Stoesser, the game was now tied 1-1.

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During the final two minutes in regulation, the Giants’ Ty Halaburda and Colton Langkow each scored a goal within 25 seconds of each other, putting their team in a 3-1 lead.

Vancouver outshot the Rebels 14-11 in the second period.

The Rebels once again came in hot in the final period, with Samuel Drancak tapping in a bouncing puck for his fourth goal of the season. Just one minute into regulation, Talon Brigley and Carson Birnie got the apples, cutting their deficit 3-2.

The Giants’ Jaden Lipinski pushed his team lead further at 7:25 with an unassisted goal, now 4-2 over the Rebels.

At the halfway mark, Red Deer’s Brigley deflected the puck into the net for his fourth goal this season. With Ollie Josephson getting the helper, they were now 4-3 behind the Giants.

However, even with goaltender Stoesser leaving an empty net in the last minute, it was not enough for the Rebels to tie the game.

The Rebels outshot the Giants in the third period 15-8.

The loss puts the Rebels in the Central Division’s fifth place position with a 6-9-0-2 record, while the Giant sit in the fourth place of the B.C. Division with 7-8-1-0.

Shots on goal

RD: 35

VAN: 29

Power play

RD: 0/4

VAN: 0/6

Three stars

1^st: Jaden Lipinski (VAN) – 1G, 1A

2^nd: Talon Brigley (RD) – 1G, 1A

3^rd: Ty Halaburda (VAN) – 1G, 1A

The Rebels will head to their final game in BC this Friday against the Prince George Cougars at the CN Centre. Puck drop is at 8 p.m. MT with the broadcast live on 106.7 REWIND radio 10 minutes prior.