Rebels score huge victory
By GREG MEACHEM
Advocate staff

Rebels 7 Cougars 0

PRINCE GEORGE — The Prince George Cougars were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

With their offence stuck in neutral heading into Wednesday's WHL contest, the Red Deer Rebels broke out of their scoring slump in a major fashion, getting two-goal performances from three players in a 7-0 whipping of the Cougars before 5,424 fans at the Multiplex.

"We capitalized on our scoring chances tonight, something we haven't been doing lately," said Rebels GM/head coach Brent Sutter.

"That's something we've been talking about for awhile."

Red Deer got a first-period goal from Joel Stepp and never looked back, scoring four times in the second period and adding a pair in the final frame.

The Rebels, coming off Friday's 3-2 loss to Portland, ran their record to 14-3 in the process.

"Before the game, the guys talked about the importance of getting right back on a winning track," said Sutter. "In the first period it seemed like they were skating in quicksand, but they eventually got their legs going and just took over the game."

The result kept the Rebels within five points of the first-place Kootenay Ice in the Central Division.

The Ice, who have played three more games than Red Deer, won 5-3 Wednesday in Lethbridge.

"This was a big win for us," said Sutter. "The kids were focused, they wanted to keep pace with Kootenay."

Kyle Wanvig scored twice in the middle frame, with Ross Lupaschuk and Justin Mapletoft adding singles. Lupaschuk and Mapletoft, who picked up a pair of assists, also tallied in the third period, while Colby Armstrong finished with three assists.

Cougars netminders Billy Thompson and Duane Perillat, who took over at the start of the third period, combined for 23 saves, while Shane Bendera stopped all 22 shots he faced for his first shutout of the season.

Bendera has been rock-solid in his last three outings, but Michael Garnett will get the start Friday when the Rebels play the Rockets in Kelowna.

"These guys push each other to be better," said Sutter of his goaltenders. "Now the pressure's on Garney to have a big game in Kelowna."

Other than the fact they cashed in when the chances came, there was nothing fancy about the Rebels' performance.

"Our forecheck was the difference," said Sutter. "We created a lot of scoring chances just by finishing our checks.

"It was important for us to come back with a win after losing our last game.

"All in all, I didn't see any weak links tonight."

The Rebels wrap up their three-game swing through B.C., Saturday in Kamloops.

Red Deer's next home game is Nov. 17 against the Medicine Hat Tigers.