By Troy Gillard (Twitter: @Troy_Gillard)

Hagel’s four assists spark Rebels in shutout win over Cougars

Feb 12, 2018 | 4:29 PM

It was a rare Monday Matinee for the Red Deer Rebels as they paid a visit to the Prince George Cougars for an afternoon tilt on Family Day in B.C.

The Rebels made the most of it, clawing out a 4-0 victory to pull within two points of a WHL playoff spot.

Dawson Barteaux opened the scoring for Red Deer when he snapped a shot past Cougars goalie Taylor Gauthier for a power play goal 10:05 into the first period.

The Rebels penalty killers were tasked with killing off a 5-on-3 Cougars power play for 1:47. They were up to the task as they held the Cougars off the scoresheet.

With a minute remaining in period two, Alexander Alexeyev, playing in his first game since returning from Russia following the death of his mother, executed a sweet toe drag then ripped home his seventh goal of the season.

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Mason McCarty gave the Rebels a comfortable 3-0 lead 1:54 into period three with his team leading 29th goal of the season on a power play.

Kristian Reichel put this one out of reach when he tapped home a give-and-go pass from Brandon Hagel for his 24th goal of the season with 11:01 left to play. The assist was Hagel’s fourth of the game on what was a big afternoon for the Buffalo Sabres draft pick.

Riley Lamb was once again solid in net for the Rebels in turning aside all 25 shots he faced to earn his first shutout of the season and the fourth of his WHL career.

Red Deer piled up 31 shots on goal and went 2/3 on the power play. Prince George was 0/3 on the power play.

On the out of town scoreboard, the Lethbridge Hurricanes defeated the Kootenay Ice 5-2 allowing the Rebels to pull within two points of the Ice for third place in the WHL Central Division.

The Rebels continue their western road trip Wednesday night in Kelowna (8 p.m. on 106.7 The Drive).