Suniev leads Wranglers with three points in 7-2 win over Moose

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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Wranglers Rally, Fall in Six-Round Shootout to Abbotsford

Photo by David Moll / Calgary Wranglers

CALGARY — The Calgary Wranglers erased a two-goal deficit Sunday afternoon at Scotiabank Saddledome but fell 3–2 in a six-round shootout to the Abbotsford Canucks, earning a point in a game with Pacific Division playoff implications.

Calgary entered the day three points outside a top-seven playoff spot in the division and pushed this one to the limit before settling for a single point.

Abbotsford opened the scoring at 2:04 of the first period. Danila Klimovich snapped a loose puck blocker-side shot for his ninth of the season. Chase Wouters recorded the assist to make it 1–0.

Joe Arntsen extended the lead at 9:59 of the second after Chase Stillman found the defenseman joining the rush down the left side. Arntsen beat Arsenii Sergeev under the glove for his second of the year, with Nils Åman adding the secondary assist to make it 2–0.

Calgary responded late in the third. Aydar Suniev cut the deficit at 14:27, wiring a shot from the right side near the top of the circle to beat Young for his 13th of the season and his third goal in four games. Dryden Hunt and Turner Ottenbreit collected the assists.

Just 1:24 later, Justin Kirkland tied it at 15:51 after Daniil Miromanov’s pass slid underneath the goaltender directly to Kirkland, who was waiting on the other side. He made no mistake from in close, scoring his sixth of the season. Martin Frk added the secondary assist.

Calgary finished with a 38–19 edge in shots.

Overtime carried urgency. William Stromgren broke in alone and appeared to slide the puck across the goal line while being hauled down, crashing into the goaltender in the process. The play was waved off, and the extra frame continued. Both netminders held firm through a series of odd-man chances, sending the game to a shootout.

The shootout extended six rounds before Jett Woo sealed it for Abbotsford.

Sergeev stopped 17 of 19 shots for a .895 save percentage. At the other end, Young turned aside 36 of 38 for a .947 mark.

The Wranglers have now gone beyond regulation in six of their last 10 games and 23 times this season. Sergeev made his second straight start Sunday, while Dryden Hunt has recorded two points in two games since returning from injury.

With 17 games remaining and division rivals in action later Sunday, including Henderson hosting Colorado and Tucson visiting San Jose, the Pacific Division playoff race remains fluid.

Calgary earned a point. The chase continues.

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Barracuda answer quickly, defeat Wranglers 4-2 in Calgary

(Photo by David Moll / Calgary Wranglers)

San Jose Barracuda struck early and responded immediately when challenged, defeating Calgary Wranglers 4-2 Wednesday night at Scotiabank Saddledome.

Patrick Giles opened the scoring shorthanded at 4:00 of the first period, and Mattias Havelid extended the lead at 7:12 as San Jose built a 2-0 cushion through 20 minutes.

Calgary pushed back in the second.

Aydar Suniev cut the deficit in half on the power play at 4:25, and just over three minutes later the Wranglers pulled even on a rush that began deep in their own zone. Etienne Morin disrupted play with a kick and poke forward to spring Ryan Chyzowski up ice, creating a 2-on-1 with Suniev as a passing option. Chyzowski kept it, snapping a top-shelf shot to the glove side past Gabe Carrier at 8:07 to make it 2-2.

The tie lasted 25 seconds.

Oliver Wahlstrom restored the Barracuda lead at 8:32, swinging momentum back to San Jose almost immediately. Egor Afanasyev added insurance at 2:14 of the third period, finishing a sequence from Kasper Halttunen and Jimmy Huntington to seal it.

Chyzowski’s goal highlighted the scoring touch he has displayed this season with Rapid City of the ECHL, where he has 22 goals in 41 games. Wednesday marked his first AHL appearance of the year.

By the numbers

Calgary finished 1-for-4 on the power play (.250) and was perfect on the penalty kill, holding San Jose scoreless on three opportunities (1.000).

San Jose outshot Calgary 38-24, generating double-digit shots in each period. Ivan Prosvetov made 34 saves on 38 shots for Calgary (.895 save percentage).

Afanasyev, who recorded a goal and an assist, was named first star. Huntington earned second star with two assists, while Chyzowski was recognized as third star for Calgary.

Suniev’s goal marked back-to-back games with a tally, while Chyzowski scored in his Wranglers debut.

Barracuda Rally Past Wranglers with Four-Goal Third, 5-3

Photo: David Moll / Calgary Wranglers

CALGARY — A strong two-period effort slipped away in the third as the San Jose Barracuda scored four unanswered goals to defeat the Calgary Wranglers 5-3 at Scotiabank Saddledome in the opener of a four-game homestand.

Calgary opened the scoring early when Aydar Suniev tucked away his 11th goal of the season just 2:10 into the first period, assisted by Sam Morton and Carter King. Lucas Carlsson answered late in the frame to send the teams to intermission tied.

The Wranglers regained control in the second. Rory Kerins restored the lead at 5:18 off a setup from Clark Bishop, and Nick Cicek extended it at 14:00 with a wrister from the blue line through heavy traffic, beating a screened Laurent Brossoit. William Strömgren and Kerins collected assists as Calgary carried a 3-1 advantage into the third. Kerins finished with a multi-point night, recording a goal and an assist.

San Jose shifted momentum early in the final period. Braden Hache cut the deficit to one at 3:19, and Anthony Vincent tied the game less than two minutes later before adding his second of the night at 10:49 to give the Barracuda their first lead. Carlsson sealed the comeback with an empty-net goal at 19:23.

Despite limiting San Jose to 9 shots against in the third, Calgary could not halt the momentum swing, surrendering control of a game they had dictated through much of the first two periods.

Arsenii Sergeev made 25 saves on 29 shots (.862) for Calgary, while Laurent Brossoit stopped 28 of 31 shots (.903) for San Jose.

The Wranglers return to Scotiabank Saddledome tomorrow night for the second half of the weekend set against the Barracuda.

Perunovich Caps Wild Back-and-Forth Night With OT Power-Play Winner

CALGARY — In one of the most entertaining games of the season at Scotiabank Saddledome, the Calgary Wranglers battled back and forth with the Tucson Roadrunners before falling 6-5 in overtime Saturday night in a high-event matchup defined by special teams, momentum swings and playoff-style intensity.

With the NHL schedule paused, the AHL took center stage in Calgary and delivered a game that featured eleven goals, multiple fights, a charged crowd and a constant shift in momentum from start to finish.

Special teams set the tone immediately.

The first three goals of the game all came on the power play. Miko Matikka opened the scoring for Tucson just 2:40 into the first period, before William Strömgren responded for Calgary at 13:36 with a man-advantage goal assisted by Daniil Miromanov and Ivan Prosvetov. Kevin Rooney restored Tucson’s lead late in the period, converting on another power play opportunity off feeds from Austin Poganski and Cameron Hebig to give the Roadrunners a 2-1 edge after one.

The back-and-forth continued in the second period.

Ben McCartney extended Tucson’s lead early in the frame, but Calgary responded quickly when Miromanov struck at 7:46, finishing a setup from Aydar Suniev and Martin Frk to pull the Wranglers within one. Carter King tied the game minutes later, converting a play created by Turner Ottenbreit and Parker Bell as the Saddledome crowd came alive.

Momentum fully swung when Dryden Hunt gave Calgary its first lead of the night with a shorthanded goal midway through the period, another example of how special teams shaped the contest. Tucson answered before the intermission through Owen Allard, leveling the score at 4-4 and setting up a dramatic third period.

Calgary regained the lead in the final frame when Rory Kerins finished a chance created by Sam Morton, pushing the Wranglers ahead 5-4 and putting the home side in position to secure the win. But the Roadrunners responded late, as Dmitri Simashev found the equalizer with just seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime.

In the extra frame, special teams again proved decisive. Scott Perunovich scored the overtime winner on the power play at 2:09, assisted by Ben McCartney and Simashev, completing Tucson’s comeback and sealing a 6-5 final.

Five of the game’s eleven goals came on special teams, underscoring how penalties and momentum shifts defined the night. Tucson’s Rooney finished with a three-point performance (one goal, two assists), while Miromanov led Calgary with a goal and an assist and was named the game’s third star. Perunovich earned first-star honours for his overtime winner.

The atmosphere reflected the significance of the matchup, with a strong Saturday-night crowd treated to a spirited contest featuring physical play, multiple scrums and an energy that mirrored playoff hockey.

As the AHL spotlighted centre stage locally, Canadian fans also saw the national team open its Olympic tournament earlier in the day with a 4-0 victory over Switzerland, powered by goals from Natalie Spooner, Sarah Fillier, Julia Gosling and Daryl Watts, while Emerance Maschmeyer recorded the shutout.

In a game defined by momentum swings and special teams, Calgary showed resilience throughout, even as Tucson ultimately claimed the extra point in overtime.

Wranglers Start Strong, Fall 7-3 to Roadrunners

CALGARY — The Calgary Wranglers opened strong Friday night at Scotiabank Saddledome, taking an early lead before the Tucson Roadrunners used a decisive second-period surge to pull away for a 7-3 win.

Calgary grabbed a 1-0 lead late in the opening frame when Aydar Suniev converted on the power play, finishing a setup from Daniil Miromanov and Martin Frk. Tucson responded early in the second to tie the game 1-1 before taking a 2-1 lead, but Sam Morton answered midway through the period to even the score at 2-2. The goal extended Morton’s scoring streak to four games, giving him six points over his last five outings.

Momentum shifted quickly during a high-event middle frame as Tucson regained the lead and built separation, pushing the score to 5-2 before Daniil Miromanov brought Calgary back within two late in the period. Miromanov finished with a two-point night, recording a goal and an assist.

Tucson added two more goals in the third period to close out the scoring and seal the 7-3 result.

Hunter Brzustewicz and Matvei Gridin returned to the Wranglers lineup during the NHL Olympic break, with Brzustewicz recording an assist in his first game back with the club.

Arsenii Sergeev got the start for Calgary, stopping 18 of 23 shots before being replaced by Ivan Prosvetov, who turned aside two of four shots in relief.

The Wranglers will have a quick turnaround as the two teams meet again Saturday night at Scotiabank Saddledome in the final game before the All-Star break, giving Calgary an immediate opportunity to respond and close the homestand on a stronger note.

Rocket score twice in third, beat Wranglers 5–3

CALGARY — The Laval Rocket scored twice early in the third period to break open a tie game and defeat the Calgary Wranglers 5–3 on Saturday afternoon at Scotiabank Saddledome.

Laval set the tone quickly, opening the scoring just 37 seconds into the game when Filip Mešár netted his fifth of the season off a setup from Lucas Condotta and Adam Engström. Calgary answered at 5:32, as Dryden Hunt buried his 12th of the year, finishing a play created by Martin Frk and Daniil Miromanov.

The Rocket regained the lead midway through the first period. At 9:39, David Reinbacher jumped into the rush and snapped home his fourth of the season, with Condotta recording his second assist of the period and Owen Beck adding the secondary helper to make it 2–1 after 20 minutes.

The second period saw momentum swing back and forth as both teams traded goals. Calgary tied the game at 6:41 when Lucas Ciona scored his fourth of the season, finishing a setup from David Silye with Zayne Parekh picking up the secondary assist. The Wranglers then took their first lead of the night at 8:47, as Aydar Suniev buried his ninth of the season with Parekh collecting his second assist of the period and Rory Kerins adding the secondary helper.

Laval responded late in the frame. With 43 seconds remaining, William Trudeau tied the game at 19:17, scoring his sixth of the season off a feed from Laurent Dauphin to send the teams into the second intermission knotted 3–3.

The Rocket wasted little time pulling ahead in the third period. At 1:54, Engström scored his second goal of the game and seventh of the season, finishing a play set up by Jared Davidson and Mešár to make it 4–3. Laval struck again at 4:12, when Davidson added his 13th of the year, with Beck and Tyler Thorpe recording the assists to extend the lead to two.

Calgary pressed for a response but could not break through the rest of the way. The Wranglers outshot Laval 33–26 on the afternoon, but the Rocket goaltender, Jacob Fowler turned aside 30 of 33 shots for a .909 save percentage. Calgary netminder, Arsenii Sergeev finished with 21 saves on 26 shots for a .808 save percentage in the loss.

Condors pull away in second period to defeat Wranglers 5–1

CALGARY — The Calgary Wranglers dropped the opening game of their weekend series Friday night, falling 5–1 to the Bakersfield Condors at Scotiabank Saddledome.

Bakersfield scored twice in the first period before breaking the game open with three goals in the second, handing Calgary its 15th regulation loss of the season in front of an announced attendance of 3,288.

The Condors opened the scoring at 7:51 of the first period when Seth Griffith recorded his 12th goal of the season, finishing a play set up by Daniel D’Amato and Viljami Marjala. Bakersfield doubled the lead at 12:34, as Max Jones converted on a rush chance with assists from Sam Poulin and Beau Akey.

Calgary responded late in the opening frame. Aydar Suniev scored at 17:21 on the power play, firing home his team-leading fourth power-play goal of the season to cut the deficit to 2–1. Carter King picked up the lone assist on the goal.

The second period proved decisive.

Bakersfield regained control at 9:09 when James Hamblin finished a setup from Poulin and Damien Carfagna to restore a two-goal cushion. Hamblin struck again just over four minutes later at 13:12, scoring his second of the night on an unassisted effort.

The Condors capped the period at 17:49 when Roby Järventie added his 12th goal of the season, pushing the lead to 5–1 heading into the third.

There was no scoring in the final period, as Bakersfield closed out the game defensively.

In goal, Connor Murphy made the start for Calgary and stopped 14 of 19 shots, finishing the night with a .737 save percentage before being relieved late in the second period. Arsenii Sergeev took over for the third and turned aside all six shots he faced, posting a 1.000 save percentage in relief.

The loss dropped Calgary to 15-15-7-2 on the season, while Bakersfield improved to 20-10-6, continuing to solidify its position near the top of the Pacific Division.

The two teams will meet again Sunday afternoon to close the weekend set, with puck drop scheduled for 1:00 p.m. MT.

Firebirds Hold Off Wranglers in 7–4 Win at the Dome

The Calgary Wranglers’ comeback bid came up short Thursday night as the Coachella Valley Firebirds earned a 7–4 win at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Coachella Valley opened the scoring 1:30 into the first period, but rookie Matvei Gridin responded quickly, scoring his ninth goal of the season to tie the game 1–1. The Firebirds then took control with four unanswered goals, building a 5–1 lead before the period ended.

Calgary showed signs of life late in the opening frame. Aydar Suniev scored to make it 5–2, setting the stage for a push in the second period. Coachella extended the lead to 6–2 early in the middle frame, but the Wranglers responded again. Rory Kerins cut the deficit to 6–3, and Justin Kirkland followed with a power-play goal less than two minutes later to pull Calgary within two at 6–4.

Both teams made goaltending changes during a wide-open game. Owen Say started for Calgary and allowed five goals on 11 shots before Connor Murphy took over, stopping 11 of 12 shots the rest of the way. Coachella Valley countered with Nikke Kokko in relief of Victor Ostman, and Kokko closed the door in the third period.

Calgary generated sustained pressure late, firing 19 shots in the final frame and finishing with 36 shots on goal, but could not solve Kokko. Coachella added an insurance goal to secure the 7–4 result.

With the win, the Firebirds improve to 29 points, moving ahead of Calgary in the Pacific Division standings. The Wranglers remain at 28 points after the regulation loss.

Calgary now turns its attention to another divisional matchup, hosting the Abbotsford Canucks on Saturday, December 13, at the Saddledome.

Wranglers Blank Firebirds 3–0 Behind Say’s 43 Save Shutout at the Saddledome

CALGARY — The Calgary Wranglers returned to the Scotiabank Saddledome and delivered one of their most complete performances of the season, shutting out the Coachella Valley Firebirds 3–0 in AHL game 352. With the win, Calgary leapfrogged Coachella Valley in the Pacific Division standings and tightened an already crowded Western Conference race.

Rookie goaltender Owen Say was the story of the night. Making his first professional shutout, he turned aside all 43 shots he faced, including a flurry of point blank chances during a heavy Firebirds push late in the second period and again in the final minutes with the net empty.

The intensity began early. Six minutes into the first period, Alex Gallant dropped the gloves with Firebirds defender Kaden Hemmell in a spirited fight that set the tone. The scrum spilled into the TV timeout, resulting in ten minute misconducts to Coachella Valley’s Ian McKinnon and Calgary’s Clark Bishop. The game had bite from the opening shift and never really cooled off.

Calgary opened the scoring shortly after. A clean three way rush started by Sam Morton and Matvei Gridin sent the puck into the middle for Aydar Suniev, who snapped home his sixth of the season at 11:43. It was Suniev’s second goal in as many games and gave the Wranglers the early lead despite Coachella Valley controlling the shot clock.

The Firebirds continued to press in the second period and were handed a 5-on-3 advantage after back-to-back Calgary penalties to Gallant and Cicek. Say stood tall through the sequence, turning away multiple high danger chances. Then, just moments later, the Wranglers doubled their lead when defenseman Danil Miromanov stepped into space and ripped home his fourth of the season at 3:53. Kerins and Stromgren picked up the assists as Miromanov extended his run to four points in his last five games.

Coachella Valley’s heaviest surge came late in the second period when Say was forced into a flurry of stops. He fought off two quick chances in tight, battled through a crease scramble, and made a save while down to preserve the 2–0 lead heading into the intermission. By the end of the middle frame the Firebirds held a 20–9 edge in shots but still had nothing past Calgary’s rookie goaltender.

The push continued in the third. Coachella Valley pulled their goalie with 2:44 left and fired from everywhere, driving the shot total above 40 and generating several near misses including one that sailed just wide of the far post. The Wranglers weathered the storm and blocked shots at key moments before sealing the win.

With thirty nine seconds remaining, Firebirds defender Jesper Froden lost an edge at the blue line, leaving Martin Firk with a clean lane toward an empty net. Calgary’s leading scorer hit the cage from a sharp angle for his 11th of the season and his 400th AHL career point. Morton recorded his second point of the night on the play.

The three stars of the game reflected the story:

1. Owen Say with his perfect 43 save shutout

2. Alex Gallant for his physical presence and first period fight

3. Aydar Suniev with the opening goal that set the tone

Calgary will face the Firebirds again on Thursday, December 11 at 7:00 pm MT back at the Saddledome. Fans can watch on AHLTV via FloHockey at the link provided by the team.

Upcoming Schedule

December 11 — 7:00 PM vs Coachella Valley Firebirds - Scotiabank Saddledome

December 13 — 6:00 PM vs Abbotsford Canucks - Scotiabank Saddledome

December 14 — 4:00 PM vs Abbotsford Canucks - Scotiabank Saddledome

December 19 — 7:00 PM vs San Diego Gulls - Scotiabank Saddledome

Calgary Wranglers Drop Both Games in Ontario, Finish Road Trip With OT Heartbreaker

Ontario, California — The Calgary Wranglers ended their longest road stretch of the season with a pair of losses to the Ontario Reign, falling 6–1 on Saturday before dropping a 2–1 overtime decision on Sunday. The results captured a turbulent 48 hours for Calgary, who battled a surging Reign team in the final leg of their 10-game trip.

Saturday’s matchup started with genuine optimism. Calgary opened the scoring when defenseman Daniil Miromanov jumped into the rush and buried his third goal of the season, giving the Wranglers an early spark. But Ontario quickly seized momentum, scoring twice before the first intermission and piling on three more goals in the second. Owen Say made 17 saves before Connor Murphy relieved him in the third, but the Reign added one more in a decisive 6–1 win.

Sunday told a different story. The Wranglers tightened their defensive structure, clogged passing lanes, and played far more composed hockey against an Ontario team riding confidence from the night before. The first period was scoreless, and Calgary broke through early in the second when Aydar Suniev buried his fifth goal of the year off a feed from Miromanov and Sam Morton. The Reign answered later in the frame, and the teams skated through a defensive third period still tied 1–1.

Overtime looked promising for Calgary early, but at the three-minute mark, Joe Hicketts found space off the rush and snapped home the winner for the Reign. Calgary finished the game with 16 shots to Ontario’s 27, but the structure and discipline were a marked improvement from Saturday’s result.

The Wranglers now head home for an important three-game stretch at the Scotiabank Saddledome, beginning Tuesday night against the Coachella Valley Firebirds. After ten straight games on the road, Calgary returns to familiar ice with an opportunity to reclaim momentum in the Pacific Division race.

Wranglers edge Reign 3–2 behind Suniev’s winner and Prosvetov’s strong night at the Dome

CALGARY — The Calgary Wranglers closed their homestand with a hard-fought 3–2 win over the Ontario Reign on Wednesday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome, powered by a shorthanded strike from captain Clark Bishop and a third-period game winner from rookie forward Adar Suniev.

Calgary opened the scoring late in the first when Martin Frk finished a quick passing sequence at 17:19. Matvei Gridin carried the puck on the entry, slipped it wide, and the puck eventually moved through Dryden Hunt to Frk at the edge of the crease for his fourth goal of the season. The Wranglers carried a 1–0 lead into the intermission with a 10–8 advantage in shots.

The second period delivered most of the night’s emotion. After Gridin was called for tripping as part of a sequence that included offsetting roughing minors, Calgary found itself shorthanded. Bishop turned the situation into an opportunity, jumping on a loose puck and scoring one-handed on the breakaway at 6:41 for his third of the year. David Silye recorded the lone assist.

Ontario responded with a strong push of its own. Akil Thomas cut the lead to 2–1 at 13:45, walking down the right side and snapping a high shot past Ivan Prosvetov. Martin Chromiak picked up the assist, and the Reign carried that momentum into the intermission despite trailing on the scoreboard. Calgary held a 22–12 shot advantage through forty minutes.

Ontario tied the game during a lengthy two-man advantage in the third. Jakub Dvorak pounced on a rebound at 17:17 to make it 2–2, with assists from Francesco Pinelli and Kenny Connors.

The Wranglers answered quickly. On the power play at 9:03, Suniev hammered home a cross-slot feed for his fourth of the season, restoring Calgary’s lead. The assists went to William Strömgren and Hunter Brzustewicz, who moved the puck sharply across the top before the decisive finish.

Prosvetov preserved the win with a sprawling right-pad save minutes later as Ontario threatened to tie the game again. The Reign pulled their goalie with 90 seconds left and generated pressure, but Calgary’s defensive group closed the final shift without surrendering another clean look. Shots finished 32–23 for the Wranglers.

The win sends the Wranglers into a three-week road swing that spans 10 games before their next appearance at the Saddledome. Calgary opens the trip on Nov. 15 and 16 in Henderson, followed by stops in Bakersfield (Nov. 18), San Diego (Nov. 22), Coachella Valley (Nov. 23), San Jose (Nov. 26), Abbotsford (Dec. 2 and 3), and a back-to-back in Ontario (Dec. 6 and 7). The Wranglers return home on Dec. 9 to face the Coachella Valley Firebirds.

Three Stars

1. Clark Bishop, CGY

2. Adar Suniev, CGY

3. Ivan Prosvetov, CGY

Calgary Wranglers Surge With 8 Straight Points and Battle of Alberta Sweep

CALGARY – The Calgary Wranglers are heating up in a hurry. After a slow start to the season, Calgary has flipped the script with points in eight straight games and a five-game win streak, capped by a dominant weekend sweep over the Bakersfield Condors.

Saturday’s opener saw Calgary take Round 1 of the AHL’s Battle in Alberta with a 4–3 overtime win. Ivan Prosvetov was sharp again, turning aside 35 of 38 shots. Calgary jumped out to a two-goal lead in the first, with Martin Frk and Rory Kerins both hitting the scoresheet. Bakersfield clawed back and forced overtime, where Sam Morton sealed it with his first career OT winner. Morton, William Strömgren, and Matvei Gridin all posted multi-point nights.

On Sunday, Calgary followed it up with a statement. The Wranglers handled Bakersfield 6–1, erasing an early Condors powerplay goal and taking control the rest of the way. Turner Ottenbreit scored his first as a Wrangler, Hunter Brzustewicz added another in the dying seconds of the first, and Calgary never looked back. Aydar Suniev, Morton, Dryden Hunt, and Gridin all scored in a third-period push that buried the Condors. Goaltender Owen Say picked up his second win of the season, stopping 21 of 22 shots.

There are standout performances across the roster during this stretch. Morton has nine points in his last five games, including five across the weekend. Prosvetov has been lights-out with a 1.26 goals-against average and a .961 save percentage over his last three games, including a shutout. Suniev has scored in two of his last four as his offensive confidence continues to build. Gridin sits second in AHL rookie scoring with 11 points.

Calgary now turns its attention to a four-game homestand at the Scotiabank Saddledome, beginning Thursday against the San Jose Barracuda at 7:00 pm. The Wranglers will also host San Jose on Saturday afternoon before Ontario visits for back-to-back games on November 11 and 12.

The Wranglers appear to have found their rhythm as momentum builds heading into the homestand.

Wranglers blank Abbotsford 3–0 to open back-to-back road set

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. -- The Calgary Wranglers opened their back-to-back in Abbotsford with a 3–0 win over the Canucks on Tuesday night. The first two periods produced no scoring before Calgary broke through in the third.

Yan Kuznetsov opened the scoring eight minutes into the period. Aydar Suniev added a second goal on the power play three and a half minutes later, his first as a professional. Rory Kerins scored the third to finish with a two-point night.

The win was driven by a trio of Russian-born contributors. Kuznetsov, a 6-foot-4 defender from Murmansk, set the tone. Suniev, a 20-year-old wing from Kazan in his first season pro after a 38-point year at UMass, doubled the lead. In goal, Moscow native Ivan Prosvetov made 33 saves for his seventh career AHL shutout in his 150th appearance.

The Wranglers and Canucks complete the two-game set in Abbotsford on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. MT. Calgary then returns home to host Bakersfield in a Saturday–Sunday set at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Nov. 1 and 2, before San Jose visits on Nov. 6.

Fans can watch Wednesday’s road meeting live on AHLTV via FloHockey at https://flosports.link/46YqCIJ.

Flames Shut Out 3–0 by Oilers in Preseason Split-Squad

CALGARY — Edmonton struck early and never trailed, turning blocked shots and opportunistic finishing into a 3–0 win over Calgary in a split-squad Battle of Alberta preseason game at the Saddledome on Sunday night.

The Oilers opened the scoring at 2:38 of the first period when Kasperi Kapanen slipped behind coverage and beat Flames goalie Devin Cooley on a breakaway. Calgary answered with offensive-zone time and flashes from its younger players, but Edmonton’s structure kept pucks to the perimeter.

Zayne Parekh was one of Calgary’s most noticeable skaters. The rookie defenseman showed poise with the puck, holding the blue line under pressure, threading cross-ice passes, and jumping into the rush to create chances. His confidence carried through all three periods, giving the Flames one of their most consistent sparks.

In the third period, Edmonton capitalized on Calgary mistakes. At 8:18, a defensive-zone giveaway landed on Connor Clattenburg’s stick, and the forward went upstairs glove side to make it 2–0. Just under four minutes later, Riley Stillman’s point shot also found the top corner, pushing the lead to 3–0 at 11:47.

Calgary had chances but ran into Edmonton’s shot-blocking wall. The Oilers closed lanes all night and finished with a 23–9 edge in blocks, a key factor in protecting the lead. Shots ended 29–20 for Edmonton. Cooley made several timely stops early in the third to keep the game close, while Matthew Coronato featured prominently on the top power-play unit alongside Kadri and Aydar Suniev, generating some of Calgary’s best looks.

Connor Clattenburg was named the game’s first star after his third-period goal. Coronato earned the second star for Calgary.

With most of Edmonton’s top players skating in the other half of the split-squad matchup at Rogers Place, this was a younger Oilers lineup in Calgary. Even so, they left with a shutout win, while the Flames saw valuable minutes from their prospects as preseason evaluations continue.

Flames Prospects Hold Off Oilers 5–4 to Sweep NextGen Showcase

CALGARY — The Calgary Flames prospects capped the NextGen Showcase with a 5–4 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday at the Scotiabank Saddledome, sweeping the weekend home-and-home series between the provincial rivals.

Edmonton struck first just over two minutes in, when Tommy Lafrenière (#54) converted from the slot to give the visitors an early lead. Calgary answered late in the opening frame. Mael Lavigne (#85) tied the game at 1–1, finishing a play set up by Kadon McCann (#73) and Simon Mack (#88).

The first period also featured a heavy hit from defenseman Mace’o Phillips (#92) that energized the crowd, as well as a key stop from goaltender Arsenii Sergeev (#40) to keep the game even heading into intermission.

Second Period
Nathan Brisson (#82) put Calgary ahead midway through the period, converting on a rush created by Jacob Battaglia (#60), with Mack earning his second assist of the night. Matvei Gridin (#51) then extended the lead, hammering a one-timer home off feeds from Carter King (#95) and Sam Honzek (#29).

Lafrenière responded with his second of the game on an Edmonton power play, cutting the Flames’ lead to 3–2 after forty minutes.

Third Period
Calgary wasted little time adding insurance. At 2:51, Colton Alain (#71) snapped a shot from the high slot after a setup by David Silye (#83) and Aydar Suniev (#36) to make it 4–2.

Edmonton’s Josh Samanski replied minutes later, finishing off a setup from Quinn Hutson to make it 4–3, but the Flames restored their cushion on the power play. Hunter Laing (#53) finished off a passing play from Parker Bell (#87) and Suniev to push the lead to 5–3.

Von Richter’s point shot brought Edmonton back within one, but Sergeev shut the door in the dying seconds. With the Oilers pressing and their goalie pulled for an extra attacker, Calgary held firm through a frantic scramble in front to seal the win.

Top Performers

• Nathan Brisson (CGY): Scored the go-ahead goal in the second and added an assist.

• Simon Mack (CGY): Two assists, steady presence on the back end.

• Aydar Suniev (CGY): Involved in multiple plays, including a key setup on the Laing power-play goal.

• Hunter Laing (CGY): Power-play goal that ultimately stood up as the game-winner.

• Tommy Lafrenière (EDM): Two goals to pace the Oilers’ attack and keep them within striking distance.

• Arsenii Sergeev (CGY): Steady in net, closing the door during a wild final scramble.

Final Score: Flames 5, Oilers 4

What’s Next
The NHL preseason begins next weekend. On Saturday, September 20, the Dallas Stars host the St. Louis Blues (5 p.m. MT / 7 p.m. ET). The following day is a busy one across the league, with 14 games on the schedule, including split-squad matchups between the Flames and Oilers. Both games are set for Sunday, September 21, with puck drop at 6 p.m. MT / 8 p.m. ET.