By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Rebels scorched by red-hot Moose Jaw Warriors

Dec 1, 2018 | 11:39 PM

No one with the Red Deer Rebels is making excuses, but when you go up against a team that’s won seven games in a row, you’re likely going to have a tough night.

On Saturday, the Rebels had just that kind of night, losing 3-2 to the Moose Jaw Warriors while being outshot 46-18.

“It’s snowing. It was supposed to be a great day for hockey, but we came out on the wrong end of the stick tonight,” said head coach Brent Sutter following the Rebels fourth loss in their last five games.

“We were obviously outplayed. What else do you say? Our top players right through, they weren’t good tonight. We got outworked and outplayed in a lot of areas.”

Moose Jaw did jump out to an early lead with Daemon Hunt scoring his 3rd of the season at 7:18 of the first period.

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But Red Deer swiftly equalized as just 39 seconds later Brandon Hagel would notch his 18th goal of the year.

A fast-paced first period was given one final jolt with 1:33 remaining as Rebel Zak Smith potted his 6th, and the Rebels were out in front headed to the dressing room.

In the second, Tate Popple drew the Warriors even at 1:55 with his 6th of the season.

Just 2:38 later, Canucks draft pick Jett Woo bagged the game-winner, his 4th goal of the season.

After that, the two teams played a plodding game, one which Red Deer couldn’t get back into, especially considering Moose Jaw never gave them a chance on the man advantage the entire game.

Coming in, the Warriors had given up just 61 powerplays in 23 games, and were averaging 7.6 penalty minutes per game, both league lows. On the other side of the coin, Red Deer killed off all three powerplays they handed to Moose Jaw.

Rebels netminder Byron Fancy (2-4-0-0) was named second star in the loss, stopping 43 of 46 shots faced.

Sutter acknowledged that he played well.

“He held the fort for us. We made a lot of turnovers. We’re just not protecting pucks. The last five games, and even last night, half the game was the same way,” Sutter said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do, but that’s alright too. It’s December 1, so it’s something we just need to continue to get better at and work at. Teams go through different periods, they go through adversity, and it’s just about how you deal with it.”

Fancy really did hold down the fort, and even when the Rebels needed a pushback in the third, he stopped all 12 shots he faced to keep it close.

Additionally, forward Brett Davis made his debut in a Rebels uniform, wearing #23 after joining the team via trade from Kootenay on Friday. Davis was -1 with two shots and went 3/7 in the faceoff circle on the night. Sutter added that considering Davis arrived to the rink shortly before game time, knew no one and was playing with new linemates, the young man had a decent outing.

The Warriors’ leading scorer Tristin Langan had three assists to move his point total to 44, one behind Rebels forward Brandon Hagel, whose goal Saturday nudged him to 45 points. The pair are #5 and #6 in the WHL points race, respectively.

After starting the season 9-1-0-0 on home ice, the Rebels have now dropped three of their last four at the Enmax Centrium.

Next up for the Red Deer Rebels is a divisional tilt on Sunday against the Hurricanes in Lethbridge. Puck drop is at 6 p.m. and the broadcast can be heard LIVE on 106.7 The Drive starting at 5:50.