The Red Deer Rebels didn’t have the best start in their match against the Medicine Hat Tigers, but they managed to turn things around and win 5-4 in double overtime. This victory gave the Rebels a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven WHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.”
The game was attended by 4,522 enthusiastic fans at Co-Op Place. It was Kalan Lind who emerged as the hero, scoring the winning goal 1:15 into the second extra frame after grabbing a loose puck in the slot and sneaking it past Ethan McCallum
Oasiz Weisblatt opens up the scoring for the Tigers at 6:17 of the first period with the assists on the goal to Hunter St. Matrin and former Brooks Bandit Jack Kachowksi.
Andrew Basha, who at the start of this playoff series is Craig Button’s 19th ranked prospect for the 2024 NHL entry draft, made it a 2-0 game for the Tigers exactly a minute later at 7:17 of the first period. The assists on the goal went to Cayden Lindstrom and Tomas Mrsic.
Projected 2026 NHL First Overall Draft Choice Whitehorse, Yukon native Gavin McKenna makes it a 3-0 game for the Tigers with 30 seconds left in the first period. Assists on the goal to Hunter St. Martin and veteran Dru Krebs.
Shots on goal in the first period were tied at 13 each.
Josh Van Mulligan gives the Tigers a 4-0 lead just 2:04 into the second period. The assists on the goal went to Tyler MacKenzie and Shane Smith.
Kai Uchacz got the Rebels on the board at 7:58 of the second period with the assist going to Kalan Lind.–Rebels captain and leading scorer, Kai Uchacz, gave the Red Deer crew some momentum when he swept home a pass from Lind, who won a battle behind the Medicine Hat net, at 7:58 of the second period.
A Caged Carson Latimer gets the Rebels on the board and cuts the Tigers lead to 2 when he scores on the Power Play at 14:08 of the second period. The assists on the goal went to Ollie Josephson and Kai Uchacz.– Carson Latimer narrowed the gap to 4-2 when his pass from the side of the net deflected in off a Medicine Hat defender at 14:08 on a powerplay.
Shots on goal in the second period were 15-12 for the Rebels.
Mats Lindgren put the Rebels within one at 7:29 of the third period with the assists on the goal going to Carson Birnie and Talon Brigley.–Mats Lindgren had his wrist shot from the left point sneak past McCallum at 7:29
Ollie Josephson ties the game up at 14:10 of the third period with the assists going to Hunter Mayo and Kalan Lind.–Ollie Josephson was left alone in front, taking a pass from Hunter Mayo and going forehand to backhand to tie it at 14:10.
Shots on goal in the third period were 6 each.
Kalan Lind scored the winner for the Rebels in 1:15 into the second overtime period to make the amazing comeback win for the Rebels.–Kalan Lind played the role of hero, collecting a lose puck in the slot and scoring on a screened Ethan McCallum 1:15 into the second extra frame.
Shots on goal in the overtime periods were 8-3 for the Tigers with the Tigers outshooting the Rebels 42-34 in the game.
Chase Wutzke made 38 saves on the 42 shots that he faced for the win for the Rebels. While 17 year old Brandon, Manitoba rookie Ethan McCallum made 29 saves on the 34 shots that he faced for the Tigers.
Three Stars of the game were 1) Kalan Lind 2) Kai Uchacz 3) Andrew Basha
Attendance in Medicine Hat was 4,522
Rebels next game is game #2 against the Medicine Hat Tigers Saturday March 30th in Medicine Hat. Rebels next home game is Tuesday April 2nd against the Medicine Hat Tigers for Game #3.
Cayden Lindstrom is playing in his first game since December 16th. Is ranked #7th at mynhldraft now. Probably quite hard to rank him considering lack of play time since Christmas. I pray the Flames use one of their 3 first round picks and grab Basha. I have a feeling that kid could be the surprise of the 2024 draft.