(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Ian Gustafson

tough loss

Rebels lose fifth straight in shootout in Portland

Nov 15, 2024 | 11:26 PM

The Red Deer Rebels lost their fifth-straight contest 3-2 on Friday night in a shootout against the Portland Winterhawks.

With the loss, Red Deer has yet to win a game on the U.S. road trip that began on Nov. 8. Since then, they’ve lost to Wenatchee, Tri-City, Everett, Seattle, and Portland, with the sixth and final game of the road trip set for Saturday against the Spokane Chiefs.

Red Deer held a 2-1 lead heading into the third period but after Portland tied it, overtime was needed. The game then headed to a shootout but the Rebels were held scoreless. Portland’s Tyson Jugnauth and Diego Buttazzoni scored for the Winterhawks to seal the deal.

In the first period, the Rebels got on the board first when defenceman Derek Thurston ripped a shot from the blue line off the faceoff just under four minutes into the game.

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However, midway through the opening frame, the Winterhawks found the equalizer off the stick of Carsyn Dyck.

Red Deer retook the lead early in the second period when forward Steven Steranka scored from a sharp angle. The rookie knocked in a shot from the right corner from behind the net that beat Ondrej Stebetak just 2:24 into the frame.

In the third period, Winterhawks forward Kyle Chyzowski tied the game nearly five minutes in. Rebels netminder Rhett Stoesser made a few big saves later in the frame to keep his team in it and extra time was needed.

After a scoreless overtime, they headed to the shootout but were unable to get the job done. On the bright side, the Rebels have been able to accumulate two points after heading to overtime in back-to-back games.

Red Deer will now look to snap their losing streak in Spokane, Wash. on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. mountain time at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena.

They’ll then return home for a tilt with the Victoria Royals on Saturday, Nov. 23 at the Peavey Mart Centrium.