BLAINE, MN – The Philadelphia Rebels (2-2-0-0, 4 pts) wrapped up their showcase weekend with a 4-2 win over the Shreveport Mudbugs (1-3-0-0, 2 pts) on Saturday afternoon.
Klaus Jogi opened up the game’s scoring, beating Mudbugs’ goaltender Tommy Aitken six minutes into the game. Jogi’s first of the year was set up by Connor Sedlak and Matt Lewis. The goal was a result of the Rebels’ relentless forecheck, creating a turnover in Shreveport’s zone where Sedlak found a cutting Jogi for a backdoor one-timer.
Jogi’s goal gave the Rebels a 1-0 lead going into the first intermission.
The second period opened with a breakaway for Matt Lewis that was stopped by Aitken. Later in the period, Max Marquette (1) was able to slide the puck past Aitken for a short-handed goal. Marquette’s goal came just seconds after Sonny DiNubile was sent to the box for interference.
Dylan Blue (1) upped the Rebels’ lead to 3-0 after scoring on a rebound. Greg Spitznagel was given the assist as he took the original shot with Blue waiting for the rebound. Shortly after, the Mudbugs got on the scoreboard after a shot from the point bounced off a Rebels’ defender and by Jakub Krbecek.
Krbecek made 32 more saves on Saturday to lift his save percentage in three showcase games to .923.
Forward Jake Mack added another goal for the Mudbugs with five minutes to play in the period and the Rebels headed into the second intermission with a 3-2 lead.
The one-goal lead didn’t last long as Max Hamstad (2) scored while driving to the net 47 seconds into the third period. The goal was set up by David Deputy and Spitznagel.
“I thought our group had some growing moments throughout the showcase,” said head coach Justin Hale. “So today was a good bookend where we pieced it all together and deserved to come out with a win.”
Philadelphia wraps up the Showcase with a 2-2-0-0 record, bookending the week with wins over Corpus Christi and Shreveport. The Rebels return home to open their East Division slate with their inaugural home game on Friday, Sept. 23 against Maryland.
