Moose defeat Wranglers 4-2 despite Calgary’s 46-shot effort
Calgary drove play for long stretches and fired 46 shots on goal, but timely finishing and strong goaltending from Thomas Milic helped Manitoba skate away with a 4-2 win. Justin Kirkland’s late first-period power-play strike and Carter Wilkie’s first of the season pulled the Wranglers level twice before the Moose broke through in the third period.
Photo by David Moll / Calgary Wranglers
CALGARY — Despite heavily outshooting the opposition, the Calgary Wranglers fell 4-2 to the Manitoba Moose on Sunday afternoon at Scotiabank Saddledome.
Manitoba opened the scoring late in the first period when Isaak Phillips netted his eighth goal of the season at 14:57, assisted by Brayden Yager.
Calgary answered in the closing seconds of the period. Justin Kirkland scored his 10th of the season on the power play at 19:27, with Daniil Miromanov and Dryden Hunt picking up the assists to tie the game 1-1 heading into the first intermission.
The Moose reclaimed the lead in the second period when Jaret Anderson-Dolan scored his ninth goal of the season at 11:11, assisted by Danny Zhilkin and Colby Barlow, giving Manitoba a 2-1 advantage after 40 minutes.
Calgary drew even early in the third period. Carter Wilkie scored his first goal of the season at 4:59, with Alex Gallant and Nick Cicek recording the assists to make it 2-2.
Manitoba regained the lead midway through the period when Dylan Anhorn scored his second goal of the season at 14:23, assisted by Parker Ford and Nikita Chibrikov.
David Gustafsson sealed the game with an empty-net goal at 18:57, his 10th of the season, with Parker Ford and Mason Shaw collecting the assists.
Despite the loss, Calgary generated sustained pressure and finished the game with a 46-37 advantage in shots on goal.
Manitoba goaltender Thomas Milic stopped 44 of 46 shots for a .957 save percentage, earning second-star honours.
At the other end, Arsenii Sergeev made 33 saves on 36 shots for a .917 save percentage, a performance that should help lift his season goals-against average and save percentage as he continues to settle into the crease for Calgary.
Dylan Anhorn was named the game’s first star after scoring the eventual game-winning goal. Milic was named the second star, while Alex Gallant earned third-star honours.
The Wranglers return to action Tuesday night when they host the Henderson Silver Knights at Scotiabank Saddledome. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. MT.
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Suniev leads Wranglers with three points in 7-2 win over Moose
Suniev’s three-point performance helped Calgary take control Friday night, as the Wranglers turned a tight game into a runaway with a six-goal second period against the Manitoba Moose. Justin Kirkland added two goals, Arsenii Sergeev was sharp in goal, and Calgary found its offensive rhythm in a decisive 7-2 win at the Saddledome.
Photo by David Moll / Calgary Wranglers
CALGARY — The Calgary Wranglers returned to the win column Friday night at the Saddledome, exploding for six goals in the second period to defeat the Manitoba Moose 7-2.
Manitoba opened the scoring when Brayden Yager struck on the power play at 7:07 of the first period, assisted by Samuel Fagemo and Walker Duehr. But the Wranglers flipped the game in dramatic fashion in the middle frame.
Calgary’s surge began just 1:03 into the second period when Justin Kirkland finished a setup from Dryden Hunt and Martin Frk to tie the game. From there, the goals came in waves.
Aydar Suniev gave Calgary its first lead at 4:41, converting a play from Étienne Morin and Gavin White. Just 41 seconds later, Suniev struck again at 5:22, set up by Clark Bishop and William Strömgren to push the Wranglers ahead 3-1.
Suniev showed exceptional speed with the puck, splitting the Moose defense and finishing.
The pressure continued when Sam Morton added another at 8:07, assisted by Brennan Othmann and Daniil Miromanov.
Late in the period, Calgary added two more. Kirkland scored his second of the night at 19:04, again set up by Hunt and Frk, before Bishop capped the surge at 19:47 with Carter King and Suniev earning the assists.
By the end of the second period, the Wranglers had turned a 1-0 deficit into a 6-1 lead with a six-goal outburst.
Manitoba pulled one back early in the third when Walker Duehr scored at 7:06 from Fagemo and David Gustafsson, but Calgary responded again at 13:35. Defenseman Artem Grushnikov scored his first goal of the season, finishing a play from Strömgren and Alex Gallant to make it 7-2.
Suniev led the way offensively and was named the game’s first star after recording two goals and an assist for a three-point night. Frk, Kirkland, Hunt and Strömgren each recorded multi-point performances.
Gavin White collected his first point in a Wranglers jersey, while newly acquired forward Brennan Othmann picked up his second point in three games with Calgary.
In goal, Arsenii Sergeev made 42 saves on 44 shots for a .955 save percentage, steadying the Wranglers throughout the night. Manitoba starter Domenic DiVincentiis stopped 19 of 25 shots before the Moose turned to their backup, finishing with a .760 save percentage on the night.
The Wranglers continue their homestand Sunday afternoon when they host the Moose again at the Saddledome. Puck drop is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. MT.
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