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Rebels fall out of playoff picture after loss to Edmonton

Feb 23, 2019 | 8:37 AM

A loss Friday night for the Red Deer Rebels suffered at the hands of the Edmonton Oil Kings means central Alberta’s team is looking at the playoff picture from the outside for the first time in quite a while.

Red Deer has been at or close to the top of the Central Division for months, but is now two points back of Brandon and three of Calgary for one of two wild card spots.

All of this thanks to a 2-1 defeat at Rogers Place to the division leading Oil Kings.

Edmonton got on the board first at the 8:56 mark of the opening frame, Scott Atkinson potting his 10th of the season.

Then, at 15:24, David Kope scored his 11th to put Edmonton up 2-0 after 20 minutes.

In the second, Brandon Hagel drew Red Deer to within one, with his 34th of the year at 14:29.

But that was as close as they’d come.

Ethan Anders made 26 stops in a losing effort. Red Deer was 0/2 with the man advantage, while Edmonton went 0/3.

The matchup was the final of a six-game road trip for Red Deer, which finishes 1-4-1-0 following a jaunt through the US Division before ending mercifully in the Alberta capital.

Red Deer is 2-4-0-0 (including one shootout win) against the Oil Kings this season.

They now get a chance at redemption and climbing back through the playoff window as they return home Saturday night to host the Edmonton Oil Kings. The two teams will play once more after Saturday, on Mar. 12 in Red Deer.

Six of Red Deer’s final 11 games are against Central Division opponent, plus one against Brandon.

Puck drop on Saturday is at 7 p.m. The broadcast can be heard LIVE on 106.7 The Drive at 6:30.