The Red Deer Rebels gave it everything they had but came up just short in a gritty 3-2 loss to the Saskatoon Blades Wednesday night at the SaskTel Centre.It was classic end-to-end hockey right from the drop—both teams were trading quality chances all evening. The Rebels struck first with Cameron Kuzma burying a power-play goal early in the opening period. Poul Andersen added another for Red Deer to keep things tight, but the Blades answered back and eventually pulled ahead for good late in the game.In net, it was a proper goaltender duel: Saskatoon’s Evan Gardner stood tall with 33 saves on 35 shots, while Red Deer’s Matthew Kondro matched him pretty much save for save, turning aside 33 of 36. Kondro’s been a rock back there lately, and he kept his team in it until the final buzzer.The defeat stings a bit more because the playoff picture in the East is getting really crowded. Red Deer now sits at 23-33-2-2, good for 50 points—just one point clear of the Moose Jaw Warriors, and they’ve got that extra game in hand to try and create some breathing room. Every shift matters down the stretch now. Tough one to swallow, but the boys battled hard on the road.
Rebels make it 1-0 just 1:55 into the first period when Cameron Kuzma scored his 10th goal of the season on the Power Play. The assists on the goal went to Jiri Kamas and Nate Yellowaga.–Right off the bat in the first period, the Rebels’ power play clicked. Jiri Kamas slid the puck over to Cameron Kuzma at the point, and Kuzma absolutely wired one past Evan Gardner in the Blades net. Dude just picked up exactly where he left off after burying the OT winner in Prince Albert last night.
Shots on goal in the first period were 17-12 for the Rebels
Blades score to tie up the game at 8:39 of the second period when University of Maine commit Rowan Calvert scored his 27th goal of the year at 8:39 of the second period. The assist on the goal went to Martensville, Saskatchewan native Kazden Mathies.–The Blades answered back in the second period. Rowan Calvert banged home a rebound after Kazden Mathies crashed the net on a wraparound try.
Blades make it 2-1 at 15:14 of the second period when Elias Pul scored. The assist on the goal went to Cooper Williams.–Then Elias Pul buried one from the slot to give Saskatoon their first lead of the game.
Shots on goal in the second period were 15-7 for the Blades.
Poul Anderson tied the game up at 2 at 1:17 of the third period. The helpers on the goal went to Cole Temple and Beckett Hamilton.–Red Deer came roaring back in the third. Cole Temple flew in on the zone entry and dished a sweet pass to Poul Andersen, who ripped a laser right through traffic and beat Gardner clean.
German David Lewandowski got the game winning goal for the Blades while on the Power Play at 14:53 of the third period with the assist on the goal going to former Lethbridge Hurricane Tristan Doyle.–Saskatoon wasn’t done though—they grabbed the lead right back late in the third. On the power play, David Lewandowski fired one that clanged off the post and in for the game-winner.
Shots on goal in the third period were 11-9 for the Rebels. The Blades barely outshot the Rebels in the game 36-35
Evan Gardner stopped 33 of the 35 shots that he faced for the win for the Blades. For the Rebels Matthew Kondro stopped 33 of the 36 shots that he faced.
Three Stars of the game were 1) Evan Gardner 2) David Lewandowski 3) Matthew Kondro
Attendance in Saskatoon was 3307
Rebels next game is Friday in Medicine Hat when they take on the Tigers.
