The Regina Rebels took a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five series with a 4-0 win over the Battlefords AAA Sharks at the Battleford Arena Thursday night.
Early in the game, the Sharks turned the puck over to Andie Wilyman as they were leaving the zone. Wilyman broke in on net, but Keinyn Nordell was able to knock the puck off her stick.
Jylelle Carpenter-Boesch got the scoring started for the Rebels with 7:20 to play in the first period. She cut into the centre of the Sharks' zone from the right wing and snapped the puck over goaltender Rachel Mitchell's glove.
Morgan Fraser had the best chance of the period for the Sharks. Her initial shot was stopped by Regina netminder Summer Roberts. Fraser got her own rebound, but Roberts made another quick pad save.
The Rebels got a two-goal lead late in the first. With 57 seconds left, Erica Rieder's shot from the point trickled through Mitchell. With the puck behind the goalie, Delaney Frey tapped it past the goal line to make it a 2-0 game heading into the intermission.
In the second, the Rebels had a good chance to extend the lead on the power play. Chelsea Perepeluk made a cross-ice pass to Emma Waldenberger, but Waldenberger was not able to control the shot to get a quality chance.
Waldenberger and Perepeluk were able to connect for a goal early in the third. Perepeluk made a backdoor pass to Waldenberger who redirected the puck into the empty net 2:31 into the period.
Battlefords had quality chances in the third period, but Roberts was able to hang on to her shutout. One of the best was when Taylor Cave released a snap shot right off an attacking zone faceoff, but Roberts made a nice kick save.
The Rebels scored their fourth goal with 7:55 to play. Perepeluk was streaking down the centre of the Sharks' zone. Frey found her from behind the net and Perepeluk beat Mitchell underneath the goaltender's blocker.
Battlefords kept attacking until the final whistle. Mallory Roy deked around Regina defender Madison Hammond at the Rebels' blue line. Roy then took a slap shot from the point, but Roberts made a great glove save.
Roberts stopped all 28 shots the shutout. Mitchell made 27 saves in the loss for the Sharks.
Game three of the series is Sunday afternoon in Regina. If necessary, game four is at Battleford Arena Thursday night.
