Slow start costly for Rebels versus league-leading Raiders

The Raiders opened the scoring just 2:59 into the first period as Spencer Moe collected a rebound coughed up by Ethan Anders and put home his fourth goal of the season.

Prince Albert went up 2-0 not long after, at the 4:11 mark, on a delayed penalty to the Rebels, as Parker Kelly capped off a superb passing play.

After Brent Sutter called an early timeout, Ethan Sakowich pulled the Rebels within 2-1 with his first goal of the season on a wrist shot from the point that eluded Raiders goalie Ian Scott.

At the 9:02 mark of period one, Cole Fonstad made it 3-1 for Prince Albert. That spelled the end of the night for Anders, after allowing three goals on 10 shots, as Sutter replaced him between the pipes with Byron Fancy.

Red Deer was given a great chance to pull closer as Prince Albert took three consecutive penalties late in the opening frame. But the Rebels power play unit came up empty.

The teams traded goals in the second period as Zak Smith pulled the Rebels within 3-2 at the 9:43 mark before Brett Leason restored the Raiders’ two-goal lead with a power play snipe at 14:27.

The Rebels mounted a push in the third period and pulled within a goal with 59 seconds remaining as Jeff de Wit snuck home a power play goal through Scott’s five hole, de Wit’s 16th goal of the year.

That was as close as Red Deer would get, however, as Prince Albert dominated the final seconds to claim victory.

Red Deer outshot Prince Albert 31-28 on the night but were held to 1/7 on the power play while the Raiders went 1/2.

“They were looking to pass instead of shooting. Not enough shots directed at the net,” Sutter said about his team’s power play woes. “The first unit, especially on that five-on-three, we tried to pass the puck and nothing was being directed on the net and we weren’t generating enough.”

Sutter noted Anders, arguably the Rebels’ most valuable player so far this season, has been shaky in back-to-back starts after a tough night Saturday versus Medicine Hat.

“That’s two games in a row where Andy hasn’t been great for us. Your starting goaltender has to be good for you.”

Star defenceman Alexander Alexeyev did not play in the game for the Rebels. He’s out day-to-day with an upper body injury.

The Rebels are right back in action Wednesday night as they visit the Medicine Hat Tigers (7 p.m. on 106.7 THE DRIVE).

by Troy Gillard (Twitter: @Troy_Gillard)

Slow start costly for Rebels versus league-leading Raiders

What's Trending