By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Rebels can’t weather the storm versus Hurricanes

Jan 19, 2019 | 10:31 PM

You may not find two teams in the league more closely matched than the Red Deer Rebels and Lethbridge Hurricanes.

On Saturday night at the Westerner Park Centrium, fans saw a close, well-played and entertaining game which ultimately saw the Canes skate away with a 2-1 win.

For Lethbridge, who started the game one point back of Red Deer in the Central Division standings, it was important to avenge a 3-1 loss to the Rebels on Friday on their home ice.

Red Deer is now 2-1-1-0 this season against the Hurricanes, with two more match-ups to come.

In Saturday’s opening period, Jeff de Wit got the Rebels on the board first with his 24th of the season at 12:27. The goal was also his team-leading 10th on the powerplay.

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At 12:23 of the second is when Lethbridge would equalize, Jake Leschyshyn notching his team-leading 26th goal of the season, one ahead of teammate Dylan Cozens.

At 9:52 of the third, Lethbridge took a hold of the lead for the first time on the night.

Jackson Shepard scored his 3rd of the year, and it eventually stood up as the game winner despite a late surge from the Rebels.

Brandon Hagel was once again a force for Red Deer despite having his 9-game point streak snapped. Near the end of the first, Hagel was robbed by Carl Tetachuk, then leveled a Canes player at the blueline before having a punch thrown at him following the buzzer. Hagel skated off doing a ‘title belt’ gesture towards the Canes bench, and was later named second star.

Meanwhile, Rebels forward Oleg Zaytsev was named third star also despite registering zero points. Zaytsev, who will play in Wednesday’s CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Red Deer, had three shots, two penalty minutes and went 4/8 on faceoffs.

Ethan Anders had another strong game making 29 saves on 31 shots.for Red Deer.

“It was obviously a really good hockey game. Both goalies were outstanding. We had lots of chances, but we didn’t capitalize. Their second goal was a bad mistake by our forwards in the neutral zone being too cute,” said Head Coach Brent Sutter post-game.

“It’s a tough game to lose, but we’ve got to reset and get ready for tomorrow. I thought we played a really good game here tonight. We were pushing the pace. But again, when you don’t capitalize and the goalie on their team keeps them in, a couple mistakes will cost you.”

Jeff de Wit and Alexander Alexeyev both left the game in the second period, de Wit after slamming hard into the Hurricanes net, and Alexeyev for what was believed to be an equipment issue. Only Alexeyev returned.

The Central Division now looks like this: Edmonton has 58 points, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat have 56, Red Deer has 55, Calgary has 46, and Kootenay has 28. The Rebels currently sit in the first Eastern Conference wild card spot with 25 games to go.

Up next for the Rebels is a date with Central Division rival Calgary on Sunday at 4 p.m. The broadcast can be heard LIVE on 106.7 The Drive starting at 3:50.