Rebels’ penalty killers excel in win over Hurricanes
Rebels 5 Hurricanes 1
The Red Deer Rebels found the solution to a Lethbridge Hurricanes power play that had created all kinds of problems in back to back contests.
The Rebels coughed up six man advantage markers to the ‘Canes in Friday and Saturday setbacks — one in regulation time, one in overtime — but limited the visitors’ power play to a single tally in a 5-1 WHL Central Division win on Sunday at the Centrium.
Not only did the Rebels go eight-for-nine on the penalty kill, they scored twice while killing the same infraction in the second period.
“Our overall game tonight was very strong right from the opening faceoff,” said Rebels GM/head coach Brent Sutter. “It was probably our most complete game as far as a full game.
“Last night we were good yet we shot ourselves in the foot with penalties at bad times,” he added, referring to a 4-3 overtime setback in Lethbridge. “The penalties were at bad times and our penalty kill wasn’t great and hadn’t been the first two games of this (three-game) series.”
The Rebels took charge of Sunday’s contest with two second-period, short-handed goals on the same penalty.
With the game knotted at 1-1 and Rebels forward Jace Isley off for holding, Josh Tarzwell notched a short-handed goal on a two-on-one feed from Chris Douglas.
Ben King then followed with another short-handed tally, breaking in alone after taking a long feed from Arshdeep Bains and beating netminder Carl Tetachuk through the pads.
“Tonight our penalty kill was good. We changed some things up and the kids adjusted to them,” said Sutter. “To get one goal while killing a penalty, and then another . . . those are back breakers, turning points in a game.”
Following a scoreless opening period, Tarzwell potted his second goal in as many nights — and second of the season — when he buried the rebound of a Chris Douglas power play shot 1:12 into the middle frame.
Logan Barlage pulled the ‘Canes even on a ‘Canes man advantage situation with a shot from the right circle at 7:57 of the period, setting the stage for the back-to-back short-handed tallies by the Rebels.
The Rebels sealed the deal when Bains cashed a power play rebound at 13:19 of the third period and Jace Isley converted a kick back from in tight just over three minutes later.
“Our five-on-five play last night and tonight was strong,” said Sutter. “The best way to put it is we deserved tonight’s win. We earned it.”
Tarzwell (2-1) and King (1-2) finished with three points apiece, while Bains (1-1) and Douglas (two assists) each had two.
“Tarz was good tonight. Both him and Dougie played very well this weekend and we need that from them,” said Sutter.
For Tarzwell, the goals on Saturday and Sunday were — comparatively speaking — a long time coming, considering the Red Deer native scored 32 times last season.
“Just taking the rust off,” he said. “It was awesome, everybody played well tonight. We only gave up one goal. You can’t lose when you only give up one.
“In the last two weeks we’ve given up too many goals, but the last two games we really dialled in defensively.”
Byron Fancy turned aside 27 shots while making just his second start of the season and was more than adequate in the Rebels net.
“There were some things we wanted him to work on,” said Sutter. “He spent lots of time with Kraymer (Rebels goalie coach Barnstable) over the last two weeks.
“Credit to him. He battled hard tonight, he was prepared to play and made some big saves. I thought he had a real strong game.”
Tetachuk made 30 saves in a losing cause.
The Rebels return to action next weekend with a three-game series with the Edmonton Oil Kings. The teams will play on Friday and Sunday in the provincial capital and on Saturday at the Centrium.
“We have a real good opponent coming up and will really have to shut it down against them,” said Tarzwell. “We just have to play our game.”
