By Sheldon Spackman

Rebels Lead Series 1-0

Rebels beat Tigers 5-4 in double OT in Medicine Hat

Mar 29, 2024 | 11:08 PM

The Red Deer Rebels kicked-off their 2024 WHL Playoff run at Co-op Place in Medicine Hat Friday night and came away with a 5-4 double overtime victory over the Tigers.

It was the Tigers, however, who opened the scoring, when Oasiz Wiesblatt scored his first goal of the playoffs at 6:17 of the first period, beating Rebels netminder Chase Wutzke. Hunter St. Martin and Jack Kachkowski assisted on the play to make it 1-0 for the home team.

A minute later, Andrew Basha made it a 2-0 game for Medicine Hat when he scored his first of the postseason at 7:17, thanks to assists form Cayden Lindstrom and Tomas Mrsic.

Then with just 30 seconds left to play in the opening frame, the Tigers Gavin McKenna scored his first of the playoffs, thanks to helpers from Hunter St. Martin and Dru Krebs to make it 3-0 heading into the first intermission.

Shots on goal were tied 13-13 after 20 minutes.

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Medicine Hat added to their three-goal lead early in the second period when Josh Van Mulligen scored his first goal of the playoffs, lighting the lamp at 2:04, thanks to a set up from Tyler MacKenzie and Shane Smith to make it 4-0 Tigers.

After four unanswered goals to start the game, the Rebels responded with one of their own at 7:58 of the second period when Kai Uchacz scored his first of the postseason, thanks to an assist from Kalan Lind to make it 4-1.

Red Deer was able to close the gap a little more when Medicine Hat’s Tyler MacKenzie took a hooking penalty at 13:50, giving the Rebels the man advantage and allowing them to capitalize on the powerplay opportunity, scoring just 18 seconds later to make it a 4-2 game. Carson Latimer scored the powerplay goal, hist first of the playoffs, with help from Ollie Josephson and Kai Uchacz.

Medicine Hat outshot Red Deer 15-12 in the second period and were also leading 28-25 on the shot clock after 40 minutes.

The Rebels then built on their momentum heading into the third period when Mats Lindgren scored his first of the playoffs, beating Tigers netminder Ethan McCallum at 7:29. It was Red Deer’s third straight goal thanks to assists from Carson Birnie and Talon Brigley to make it a one-goal game at 4-3.

Then with under six minutes to play in the third period, the Rebels Ollie Josephson mustered up some playoff magic with his first of the playoffs at 14:10 to tie the game 4-4. It was Red Deer’s fourth unanswered goal after Medicine Hat did the same to start the game. Hunter Mayo and Kalan Lind chipped in with the helpers to set up an exciting finish to regulation time.

But it would stay 4-4 after 60 minutes with shots on goal tied 6-6 in the third period and 34-31 overall in favour of Medicine Hat to that point.

Then despite some quality chances at both ends in overtime, neither team would score in the first 20 minutes of extra time with the Tigers outshooting the Rebels 8-2.

In double overtime though, the Rebels Kalan Lind became the overtime hero when he scored his first of the playoffs and third point of the game, unassisted at 1:15 of extra time to win the game 5-4 and finish off an incredible come back for Red Deer.

Red Deer outshot Medicine Hat 1-0 in the double overtime period, with the Tigers outshooting the Rebels 42-34 overall.

On special teams, Red Deer went 1/6 on the powerplay while Medicine Hat went 0/3.

Three Stars:

1. Kalan Lind – Red Deer. 1G, 2A, (+/-) +3.

2. Kai Uchacz – Red Deer. 1G, 1A, (+/-) – 1.

3. Andrew Basha – Medicine Hat. 1G, 0A, (+/-) -1.

Game 2 of the best-of-seven first round WHL playoff series takes place Saturday, March 30, 2024, 7:00 p.m. at Co-op Place in Medicine Hat. You can catch all the action live on 106.7 Rewind Radio.

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