Rebels down Blades with 3-1 textbook road win in Game 1

Saskatoon will try to even Eastern Conference semi on Sunday

The Rebels celebrate a third period goal from Jace Isley.

The Red Deer Rebels made the Saskatoon Blades look like they were fighting their way through quicksand.

On Friday playing before 6,823 spectators at the SaskTel Centre, the Rebels clogged up the centre ice zone and sealed off the passing lanes in the defensive zone to grind out a 3-1 victory over the host Blades in Game 1 of a best-of-seven WHL Eastern Conference semifinal series. Game 2 is set for Sunday at 4 p.m. at the SaskTel Centre, where the Blades will be looking to get on even terms before the series shifts to Red Deer for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

Rebels head coach Steve Konowalchuk said he thought his team would be in a tight battle, and that was how Friday’s game materialized.

Christoffer Sedoff had a goal and an assist for the Rebels.

“We knew it would be a tough game, and it was a tough game and goes right to the end,” said Konowalchuk. “It is sure nice to get the first win, but it is back to work and try to reset for next game.

“Our team I thought had some composure. They’ve got a good power play. They usually don’t’ give a lot of power play chances, so we have to be smart on our end as well.”

Blades head coach Brennan Sonne said his team played good at times but a better effort was needed overall.

“We didn’t start on time,” said Sonne. “I didn’t like our start.

“I didn’t like the first period. We had good spurts in the second and third. (We were) not consistent enough however and not enough guys really raising their level tonight.”

Tyler Parr returned to the Blades lineup from injury on Friday.

Early in the first period, Rebels captain Jayden Grubbe had a breakaway on the Saskatoon goal. The 19-year-old skilled centre snapped a shot off the goalpost.

Shortly after killing off a Rebels power play, Blades winger Tyler Parr was stopped close in after taking a shot from the right side of the Red Deer net. Parr was playing his first game after missing 48 contests between the regular season and post-season due to an upper body injury. Sonne was pleased with Parr’s performance on Friday.

“We just love Parrsy (Parr),” said Sonne. “He is a workhorse, such a good kid (and) just brilliant.

“It was huge having him back. He was awesome.”

Jhett Larson had the Rebels first goal on Friday.

With 9:21 remaining in the first, there was a bit of confusion when play was stopped in the Red Deer end. The officials were trying to determine if the Rebels were guilty of a high-sticking infraction from a linesman observation, when Blades utility player Spencer Shugrue went down. Shugrue proceeded to finish the game.

The stoppage to discuss the possible penalty lasted about 10 minutes, included video review and saw the officials place Rebels import right-winger Frantisek Formanek in the penalty box and then let him out of the box a couple of minutes later. Formanek looked visibly confused through that whole situation.

When play resumed with no penalty being called, an announcement went up in the building that there was no penalty for high sticking, because a Blades player high sticked himself.

Jace Isley was credited with the Rebels second goal on Friday.

The opening 20 minutes was a feeling out frame with the Rebels holding a 7-5 edge in shots on goal.

Red Deer broke through on the scoreboard at the 4:28 mark of the second, when Rebels right-winger Jhett Larson, who turned 19-years-old in early February, fired home a shot from in front of the Saskatoon net. Larson’s tally came on the Rebels ninth shot on goal in the contest and he converted a beauty drop setup pass from Rebels import offensive-defenceman Christoffer Sedoff.

“It is certainly always nice to get the first goal,” said Konowalchuk. “They block shots, and they do a good job protecting their house.”

Following the Rebels goal, Blades netminder Austin Elliott made a trio of big saves to ensure the Blades made it to the first intermission only down one goal. First, Elliott made a right pad stop on Rebels left-winger Ben King close in on the left side of the Saskatoon net.

Jake Chiasson had the Blades lone goal on Friday.

Elliott proceeded to rob Sedoff with a glove stop. A short time later, Elliott made a left pad stop on a point shot from Rebels defenceman Hunter Mayo, who fed the puck through a screen.

“I think both teams came out ready to go, and it was a tight game,” said Grubbe. “There wasn’t a lot of chances back and forth.

“For the most part, it was pretty tight and getting in shot lanes. Around the net, there wasn’t a lot besides kind of special teams there where it opened up a little bit. I think it was a good start to the series.”

The Blades came out with a good push back in the third. Blades star import right-winger Egor Sidorov had a great scoring chance one-timing a rocket shot from the right slot that Rebels netminder Kyle Kelsey, who has been sensational in the post-season, got his blocker on.

Kyle Kelsey made 23 stops in goal for the Rebels.

Kelsey proceeded to stone Blades 19-year-old defenceman Charlie Wright who pinched down low to the right side of the Red Deer net for a huge scoring chance.

With 6:41 remaining in the third, the Rebels pushed their lead out to 2-0 thanks to a positive bounce goal. Rebels 20-year-old winger Jace Isley jetting down the right wing, cut across the face of the Blades goal and put a shot of the right post of the Saskatoon net.

The puck proceeded to sit loose in the crease of the Saskatoon goal. Blades 18-year-old defenceman Ben Saunderson scrambled to clear the puck away from the net but inadvertently deflected it off Elliott’s skate into his own goal to give the Rebels their two-goal edge.

The Blades didn’t go away. With 2:27 remaining in the third, they pulled Elliott for an extra skater.

Austin Elliott makes one of his 17 saves in goal for the Blades.

Blades star left-winger Jake Chiasson collected the rebound from a Sidorov shot at the left side of the Red Deer net and put the puck into an empty cage to cut the Rebels lead to 2-1 with 1:52 remaining in the third. The hosts were unable to find the equalizer as Sedoff rounded out the win with a long range empty net goal with 4.1 seconds remaining in the frame.

Grubbe was pleased his squad was able to take the series opener.

“I think for us it was just important to get off to a good start here,” said Grubbe. “You want to ideally get one on the road at least.

Ben Saunderson had some back luck on Friday night.

“It is good to get the first one here to start off and then go from there.”

Elliott turned away 17-of-19 shots to take the setback in net for the Blades. Kelsey stopped 23 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Rebels in a battle of rookie netminders.

Both squads had three power-play chances, but were not able to score with the man advantage.

Looking forward to Game 2, Sonne said he will be looking for three things from his players.

“Our start needs to be a lot better,” said Sonne. “We need to start on time with everyone.

Rebels D Mats Lindgren fends off Blades RW Vaughn Watterodt.

“We need to get forechecking. I really didn’t think we did enough on the forecheck. I think everyone just to a man has to make sure they are being their best selves, which you really can’t say that about tonight.”

Konowalchuk said his team needs to reset for Game 2 expecting the Blades to come with a stronger effort.

“I think our guys know that,” said Konowalchuk. “I think the other team knows that.

“It is a series. We have to reset, and that would be the message. It is just you know what - let’s go back to work and put this one behind us.

“It is going to be tough for next game.”

The Rebels celebrate their win on Friday.

NOTES – Blades 20-year-old defenceman Blake Gustafson was out with an undisclosed injury and center Josh Pillar, who turned 21-years-old in February, was out for an undisclosed reason. The Rebels were without veteran defenceman Marek Schneider, who turned 20-years-old in February, for an undisclosed reason.

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