Taylor Tabashniuk made his WHL debut under challenging circumstances, stepping in as a replacement for injured teammates Chase Wutzke and Rhett Stoesser. Despite the high stakes, the 17-year-old goaltender from Regina delivered an impressive performance for the Red Deer Rebels during their Eastern Conference Semifinal match against the Saskatoon Blades. Tabashniuk’s great performance in his first game bodes well for his future as a netminder in the WHL, showing kick ass resilience in a high-pressure situation.
Olds, Alberta native Charles Wright made it a 1-0 game at 2:36 of the first period on a very weak pee wee style shot With the assists on the goal going to William James and Fraser Minten. Probably the only weak goal that Tabashniuk allowed in all night.–Blades alternate captain Charlie Wright opened the scoring 2:36 into the contest, something Saskatoon’s done every game so far in the playoffs. The Olds, AB product snapped the puck past 2007 netminder Taylor Tabashniuk with plenty of family in attendance. Wright leads all Saskatoon defenceman in points with eight (2G, 6A) in as many games these playoffs. The Blades website called Tabashniuk a 15 year old. He turned 17 on St. Patrick’s day. Backing Tabashniuk up however is 2008 born netminder Peyton Shore who is 15.
Carson Latimer evened it up to make it a 1-1 game after a scramble in front of the net. The assists on the goal to Ollie Josephson and Hunter Mayo.–Rebels forward Carson Latimer tied the game 14 seconds later with his fifth of the playoffs. Latimer has points in four straight, scoring two goals and two assists in that span.
Rowan Calvert scored his first goal of the playoffs to make it a 2-1 game at 7:31 of the first period. Assists on the goal went to Misha Volotovskii and Vaughn Watterodt.–Less than five minutes later, 18-year-old forward Rowan Calvert regained the Blades lead with his first career WHL playoff goal. The Moose Jaw, SK product beamed a shot past Tabashniuk for his second point of the postseason.
Egor Sidorov made it a 3-1 game just 20 seconds later at 7:51 of the first frame with the assists going to Trevor Wong and former Red Deer Rebel Nick Andrusiak.
Carson Birnie scores shorthanded to pull the Rebels within one at 11:36 of the first period. Unassisted. Nice shot I highly doubt that Carson Birnie ever played NHL 94 on Sega Genesis. But that use to be the glitch move in that game. Shooting from the far hash marks. Birnie has been a beast lately, going to watch him has been worth the admission alone lately.–The Blades were awarded the game’s first powerplay 10:34 into the first, but Rebels forward Carson Birnie scored a short-handed goal to bring the Rebels within one. Birnie has three goals and one assist in eight playoff games and finished the night with five shots.
Shots on goal in the first period were 14-10 for the Blades
Quentin Bourne scored his first ever WHL goal to tie the game up at 3 at 2:16 of the second frame with the assists on the goal going to Dwayne Jean Jr. and Luke Vlooswyk.– Quinton Bourne then tied the game 3-3 with his first ever WHL goal at 2:16 of the second period after Dwayne Jean Jr. carried the puck into the Saskatoon zone and slipped it to Bourne in the slot. His quick shot deflected off a defender and high over a startled Gardner.
Trevor Wong capitalized on a Rebels Dman error and sniped a goal to regain the lead for the Blades just 41 seconds later at 2:57 of the second. The assists on the goal went to Brandon Lisowsky and goalie Evan Gardner.–Trevor Wong stole the puck in the slot to beat Tabashniuk high to the stick side
Egor Sidorov scores his second of the game at 8:15 of the second period to make it a 5-3 Blades game. Unassisted. -Sidorov got his second of three when he was allowed to walk into the slot.
Kalan Lind scores for the Rebels at 15:02 of the second period with assists on the goal going to Mats Lindgren and Frantisek Formanek.–Once again, the Rebels battled back with Kalan Lind beating Gardner on a wrap-around at 15:02. That spelled the end for Gardner who gave way for veteran Austin Elliott.
Egor Sidorov got his hat trick goal at 18:35 of the second period to make it a 6-4 Blades game. The assist on the goal going to Brandon Lisowsky.-Sidorov gave the Blades their two-goal lead back at 18:35 of the middle frame.
Shots on goal in the second period were 14-12 for the Rebels.
Port Coquitlam, BC Native Brandon Lisowsky made it a 7-4 game at 6:27 of the third period on the Power Play. The assists on the goal went to Trevor Wong and Nashville Predators 2023 first rounder Tanner Molendyk.–The third period started with Brandon Lisowsky scoring a power play marker on a one-timer at 6:27.
Frantisek Formanek got a 5 minute spearing major on Lukas Hansen. He ended up getting tossed for that. The Rebels were successful at killing off the whole penalty. They also scored during it.
Talon Brigley scored a shorthanded beauty at 11:58 of the third period unassisted. The goal was also the WHL highlight of the night. That goal should be on Sports Centre.-But it would be Rebels forward Talon Brigley scoring the goal of the game while shorthanded as he grabbed a loose puck in front of his net, took it coast-to-coast before spinning a 360 around Blades rearguard Tanner Molendyk and putting a shot past Elliott.
Lukas Hansen scores into the empty net to make it an 8-5 Blades game at 18:40 of the third. The assist going to Trevor Wong.–Lukas Hansen put the final touches on the victory for the Blades with an empty net marker at 18:40.
Shots on goal in the third were tied 13-13. The Blades outshot the Rebels 39-37.
Evan Gardner made 16 saves on the 20 shots that he faced before being yanked at 15:02 of the second period right after the Kalan Lind goal. He was then replaced by Austin Elliot who made 16 stops on the 17 shots that he faced. Rookie net minder Taylor Tabashniuk made 31 saves on the 38 shots that he faced. Kid played awesome. I have seen others be put in similar situations and the outcomes were not good.
Three Stars of the game were 1) Egor Sidorov 2) Trevor Wong 3) Talon Brigley
Attendance in Red Deer was 4411
Rebels next game is Wednesday April 17th at 7pm at the Peavey Mart Centrium
Saskatoon forward Easton Armstrong has been suspended for his charging major on Wutzke in period three of game two. The length of the suspension is TBD at this time.
