(File photo rdnewsNOW staff)

By Ian Gustafson

comeback kids

Rebels overcome deficit in third period to beat Hitmen

Nov 4, 2024 | 9:55 PM

The Red Deer Rebels scored two goal’s in the third period to beat the Calgary Hitmen 3-2 on Monday night.

Rookie forward Jaxon Fuder scored the game winner at the Scotiabank Saddledome with under four minutes to go and netminder Chase Wutzke posted 38 saves on 40 shots.

The Rebels got on the board first, two minutes and 31 seconds into the opening period scored by Evan Smith.

He knocked in his first goal of the season out front off the pass from rookie Steven Steranka who stole the puck behind the net after the goalie misplayed the puck.

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The Hitmen tied the game with 8:29 left in the frame scored by rookie forward Rylan Ng who shot from the right circle, assisted by Maxim Muranov.

Despite the score, the Rebels were heavily outshot 15-8 by the Hitmen after the first 20 minutes of action.

Calgary took their first lead of the game in the lone goal of the second period off a laser of a shot from defenceman Carter Yakemchuk from the right circle.

The Rebels tied the game over eight minutes into the third period. After Matthew Gard won a faceoff in the Hitmen’s zone, the puck went out to defenceman Jace Weir who ripped a shot through traffic to beat the goalie.

With just under four minutes to go, Fuder scored the game winner for the Rebels on a back hand shot on the right side of the net. Gard set him up for his second assist of the evening.

The Hitmen kept pushing until the final few seconds but Wutzke came up clutch with some big saves down the stretch.

With the win, the Rebels moved into second place in the Eastern Conference and first in the Central Division standings with a 9-5-1-0 record.

Red Deer will now head out on a six-game road trip through the U.S. Division beginning in Wenatchee on Friday to take on the Wild at 8 p.m. mountain time.