Red Deer Rebels at Portland Winterhawks: Preview, updates, chat, how to listen and watch

What: The Portland Winterhawks (8-8-2) take on the Red Deer Rebels (9-8-1-1) in Western Hockey League action.

When: Friday, November 15, 7pm PST.

Where: Memorial Coliseum.

You can stream the game via the CHL TV pay per view (about US$7.50 for one game).

Listen: Winterhawks and Rebels audio.

Follow:

The box score.

Get updates and chat before, during, and after the game.

Portland Winterhawks A tough loss for the Portland Winterhawks on Wednesday. They lost a winnable game 3-1 to the Calgary Hitmen, as they just couldn't find enough offense. They complained about the condition of the ice after the game, and there was some evidence that it turned the game into a crapshoot. It probably helped Portland outshoot Calgary, which was very much against expected form. On the bright side, they got another good game out of backup goalie Marek Schlenker, and the goaltending has been quite good the last two games.

The Kelowna Rockets are within 2 points of the Winterhawks for the last playoff spot. They have two games in Prince George this weekend, which gives Portland a little bit of breathing space, but it would be disappointing to come up empty against both Calgary and Red Deer, two middle-bottom teams on their road trip west.

Buttazzoni had the only goal on Wednesday, and he has a 3-game point streak, along with his linemate Chyzowski. Their other linemate, Zakreski, had a 4-game point streak snapped.

Miller came back Wednesday after missing a game, but then he got hurt again. The injury looked pretty serious so it would be a big surprise if he played.

Jugnauth didn't have his best game Wednesday, but still picked up an assist on the Winterhawks' only goal. He has a 5-game point streak.

With game Friday and Saturday, the Winterhawks could go in any direction with the goalies. They could go with Štěbeták in both games, or they couldn't split the two between them in either order.

Red Deer Rebels The Red Deer Rebels having a decent season until they came west. When they started the trip they were 9-5-1. But on the trip they've lost all four games, although Tuesday's loss to Seattle was 3-2 in a shootout. They've also lost to three backup goalies in a row.

They're the second-lowest-scoring team in the league, and they have the league's worst shooting percentage. Their special teams haven't been good, and they compound it by taking a lot of penalties and not drawing a lot.

They've won a playoff series each of the last three seasons. It will take a lot of work to make it four.

They've been hurt by injuries to Lind and Pikkarainen, two NHL draft picks. Their top three forwards in shots, Josephson, Brigley, and Larson, have combined for an .070 shooting percentage.

Josephson is a 4th round pick of the Kraken. Gard is a B-rated prospect by Central Scouting.

Mayo leads them ing goals with 7, with a shooting percentage more like that of a decent forward. That he leads says more about the forwards' struggles.

Vlooswyk is a C-rated prospect by Central Scouting. He's a 1st round WHL draft pick; the Rebels have 12 players who were drafted in the first two rounds.

Wutzke is a 5th round pick of the Minnesota Wild. He's gotten a heavy majority of the minutes in the last 8 games; Stoesser got hooked in his one start so Wutzke played that one, too. There's a chance Wutzke wears down if he gets the start again, and Red Deer does have a game in Spokane on Saturday.

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