The Red Deer Rebels beat the Medicine Hat Tigers 5-2 in game five of the WHL playoffs on Friday. (CHATNewsToday/ Lisa Parent)

By Alessia Proietti

series goes to rebels 4-1

Rebels close playoff series with 5-2 win against the Tigers; set to face Blades in round two

Apr 5, 2024 | 9:54 PM

The Red Deer Rebels not only closed out the series, but dominated game five with a massive 5-2 win against the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL playoffs on Friday night at Co-op Place.

In the best of seven series, the Rebels went 4-1 against the Tigers, two of their wins coming in overtime. They now have a date with destiny and the Saskatoon Blades. More on that later, but as for the series, the schedule is yet to be announced.

The Rebels gained a lead early in the first period with Carson Latimer scoring shortside from the right faceoff circle on Tigers goaltender Zach Zahara. His fourth goal this playoff season was assisted by Jhett Larson, putting the visiting team up 1-0 less than three minutes in.

At the halfway mark of the first, Red Deer’s Dwayne Jean Jr. scored through traffic from the top of the left faceoff circle. Matthew Gard and Hunter Mayo got the helpers to double their lead.

Medicine Hat then made a change in net, with Ethan McCallum replacing Zahara.

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The Rebels were outshooting the Tigers 11-7 after 20 minutes of play.

In the middle frame, Red Deer’s Frantisek Formanek tapped in a loose puck, the eventual game-winner, while in front of the crease, following a rebound off the netminder. Captain Kai Uchacz and Kalan Lind claimed the assists at 15:48, pushing their lead to 3-0.

Right place, right time! pic.twitter.com/KZqfHxeP4K

— X – Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) April 6, 2024

The Tigers outshot Red Deer in the period though 18-5.

With Medicine Hat’s Bogdans Hodass sent to the box for boarding in the first few minutes of the final period, Red Deer’s Uchacz sneakily picked up the loose puck from behind the net and tucked it into the bottom corner for his second goal this season. The power play goal was assisted by Mats Lindgren at 4:37, putting them ahead 4-0.

Just 29 seconds later, the Rebels’ Talon Brigley put more salt in the wound, making it 5-0 with a sharp-angle, unassisted goal.

A 🎯 for Brigley's first of the #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Hdkz8hnO8q

— X – Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) April 6, 2024

Red Deer’s bid for a shutout was spoiled unfortunately when Medicine Hat’s Andrew Basha scored at 10:57.

The Tigers scored once more at 15:47, with Nate Corbet making it a 5-2 game.

Medicine Hat outshot Red Deer again in the third period 13-9.

Shots

RD: 25

MH: 38

Power play

RD: 1/3

MH: 0/5

Three stars

1^st: Rhett Parsons (MH)

2^nd: Dru Krebs (MH) – 1A

3^rd: Bogdans Hodass (MH)

The Rebels will head into round two of the playoffs for the third-consecutive season and will battle against the Blades in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. It’s a rematch for the Rebels as the teams also faced each other in last year’s second round of the playoffs. The Rebels will look to avenge the loss which saw them drop four straight after winning the series’ first three game.

Stay tuned for more updates on rdnewsNOW.com.

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