(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Alessia Proietti

eastern road trip

Rebels win streak ends in shootout loss to the Raiders

Jan 31, 2024 | 11:41 PM

The Red Deer Rebels broke a nine-game winning streak with a 4-3 shootout loss on Wednesday against the Prince Albert Raiders at the Art Hauser Centre.

It was the longest win streak in the WHL season so far and the Rebels’ first of five games on an eastern road trip.

On the brighter side, Rebels goaltender Rhett Stoesser celebrated his 19^th birthday during the game and Captain Kai Uchacz earned his 30^th career power play goal, tying him for second-most in Rebels franchise history with Arron Asham and Justin Mapletoft. Last season’s Ben King leads with 44.

Early in the first period, the Raiders capitalized on a power play opportunity as Red Deer’s Jeremiah Roberts was sent to the box for too many men on the ice. Niall Crocker scored a goal at 3:23 on Rebels goaltender Stoesser, opening the scoreboard 1-0.

Prince Albert doubled their lead to 2-0 when Aiden Oiring scored just past the halfway point.

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But within the last two minutes of regulation, the Rebels cut the deficit in half, scoring a power play goal after the Raiders’ Oiring was given a high sticking penalty. Red Deer’s Uchacz scored his 29^th goal this season with a one-timer on Prince Albert goaltender Max Hildebrand. Assisted by Kalan Lind and Carson Latimer, the team was behind 2-1.

After 20 minutes of play, the Rebels were outshooting the Raiders 15-9.

In the middle frame, Red Deer’s Jhett Larson earned a cross checking penalty, leaving the Raiders to capitalize with a power play goal at 6:52. Krzysztof Macias pushed the team’s lead to 3-1.

The Rebels still outshot the Raiders in the second period 18-2.

Red Deer fought hard in the third period, to ultimately tie the game in the second half. At 9:43, the Rebels’ Frantisek Formanek was able to grab the puck as two Raiders players collided into each other and score with a low shot. His 12^th goal of the season was assisted by Jhett Larson and Uchacz, now tailgating behind the Raiders at 3-2.

The Rebels pulled out their goaltender for the last minute, and with just 35 seconds left in regulation, managed to bounce the puck from their defending side to the offensive in two long passes. Lind picked up the loose puck to score his ninth goal of the season, with Uchacz and Latimer getting the apples. The game was now tied 3-3 and would go into overtime.

The Rebels greatly outshot the Raiders 10-3 in the final period.

With no goals or power play opportunities in overtime, Red Deer outshot Prince Albert 3-1 and brought the game into a shootout.

In shootout, only the Raiders’ Oiring scored in the first round, while Sloan Stanick for Prince Albert and Uchacz for the Rebels scored in the second round. With both shots missed in the third round, the Raiders won the game 4-3.

Shots on goal

RD: 46

PA: 26

Power play

RD: 1/4

PA: 2/6

Three stars

1^st: Krzysztof Macias (PA) – 1G, 1A

2^nd: Max Hildebrand (PA) – SH46, SV43

3^rd: Kai Uchacz (RD) – 1G, 2A

The loss keeps the Rebels in second place in the Central Division with a record of 27-13-1-5 while the win puts the Raiders in fourth place in the Eastern Division at 21-23-1-3.

The Rebels continue their eastern road trip on Friday against the Brandon Wheat Kings at the Westoba Place. Puck drop is at 6 p.m. MT with the broadcast live on 106.7 REWIND radio 10 minutes before.