Red Deer Rebels centre Evan Smith (middle) looks for the puck at home against the Wenatchee Wild on Feb. 24, 2024. Smith was a +1 and had two shots in the game, which Red Deer lost 3-2. (Red Deer Rebels)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

into the wild

Rebels lose third of four as battle for playoff positioning intensifies

Feb 24, 2024 | 9:54 PM

In what was the first meeting between the Red Deer Rebels (29-19-2-6) and Wenatchee Wild (29-23-4-0) since the latter’s relocation from Winnipeg, it was the visiting team coming out on top.

The two squared off Saturday night from the Peavey Mart Centrium in Red Deer, the Wild skating way with a 3-2 win.

Red Deer had hosted all the U.S. Division teams earlier this season, winning three of those four games prior to the loss against Wenatchee.

With the result Saturday, and just 11 games remaining, the Rebels sit seven points back of the Central Division leading Medicine Hat Tigers, and four behind Swift Current, who beat the Tigers in overtime on Saturday.

Scoring summary

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The visitors got on the board first on this night when Caelan Joudrey (2nd) scored 6:47 in.

But Red Deer struck back when Frantisek Formanek (17th) drew the Rebels level at 11:12 of the first.

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Before the opening frame was done, however, Wenatchee retook the lead when Miles Cooper (14th) notched a power play marker at 14:31.

It was 2-1 after an opening 20 minutes that saw Rebels Captain Kai Uchacz and Wild d-man Karter Prosofsky get in a scrap. Each received fighting majors and minor penalties. The score remained 2-1 Wenatchee through 40 with a scoreless second that saw the Rebels shorthanded twice on infractions by Mats Lindgren.

At 3:20 of the third, Wenatchee extended their lead to 3-1 with a goal from Kenta Isogai (26th) at 3:20.

The Rebels drew within one at 10:47 as Samuel Drancak (9th) scored to make it 3-2.

Red Deer then had a power play for the final 1:23 of regulation, but could not capitalize.

Final score: 3-2 Wenatchee

Chase Wutzke made 22 stops for Red Deer, while Brendan Gee stopped 29 pucks.

Shots

WEN: 25

RD: 31

Power play

WEN: 1/3

RD: 0/2

Three stars

1st: Kenta Isogai (WEN) – 1 goal, 1 assist

2nd: Samuel Drancak (RD) – 1 goal, 1 assist

3rd: Graham Sward (WEN) – 1 assist

Up next for the Red Deer Rebels is a date with the Blades in Saskatoon on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Puck drop is at 6 p.m. MST, with the broadcast on 106.7 REWIND Radio.