Wranglers rally late but fall 4-2 to Firebirds in 40-shot effort

Photo by David Moll / Calgary Wranglers

PALM DESERT, Calif. — After falling behind 3-0 midway through the second period, the Calgary Wranglers responded with back-to-back goals from Lucas Ciona and Dryden Hunt to cut the deficit to one, but ultimately fell 4-2 to the Coachella Valley Firebirds on Saturday night at Acrisure Arena.

Calgary controlled stretches of play and finished with a 40-21 advantage in shots but could not solve Firebirds goaltender Nikke Kokko, who stopped 38 attempts to help secure the win.

Coachella Valley opened the scoring at 7:19 of the first period when Logan Morrison recorded his 25th goal of the season, finishing a play set up by Jani Nyman and Gustav Olofsson.

The Firebirds extended the lead early in the second period. Nyman made it 2-0 just 56 seconds into the frame with assists from Morrison and Jagger Firkus, and Firkus added another at 8:48 off a feed from Nyman and Morrison to push the advantage to three.

The Wranglers answered late in the period with a surge. Ciona put Calgary on the board at 18:29 after a pass from Clark Bishop, and Hunt followed just 27 seconds later with his 15th of the season, finishing a play from Bishop and Hunter Brzustewicz to pull Calgary within one heading into the third.

Gustav Olofsson restored a two-goal cushion for Coachella Valley at 8:38 of the third period with assists credited to Oscar Fisker Molgaard.

Arsenii Sergeev made the start for Calgary and stopped 17 of 21 shots for an .810 save percentage.

Kokko finished with 37 saves on 40 shots for a .949 save percentage and was named the game’s third star. Morrison, who recorded a goal and two assists, earned first-star honours, while Nyman was named the second star.

The Wranglers return to action Sunday afternoon for a rematch with the Firebirds in Palm Desert. Puck drop is scheduled for 4 p.m. MT.

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Flames defeat Sharks 4–1, move to 54 points in Western chase

The Calgary Flames earned their 24th win of the season Thursday night, defeating the San Jose Sharks 4–1 and moving to 54 points in the Western Conference wild card playoff race.

Calgary remains nine points back of a playoff spot heading into play Friday, with the top two wildcard teams advancing.

After a scoreless first period, San Jose struck early in the second when Tyler Toffoli tipped in his 16th goal of the season just 1:17 into the frame.

The response came late in the period.

Nazem Kadri tied the game at 15:02 of the second, finishing a wrist shot off feeds from Joel Farabee and MacKenzie Weegar to send the teams into the third period even at 1–1.

The final period belonged to Calgary.

Connor Zary gave the Flames their first lead at 5:22 of the third, snapping home his 10th of the season with Mikael Backlund and Yan Kuznetsov earning the assists.

Kadri added his second of the night and 12th of the season at 11:56, finishing another wrist shot with Zary picking up the helper.

Backlund sealed it into the empty net at 17:30 for his 13th of the year, assisted by Matt Coronato and Zach Whitecloud.

Dustin Wolf stopped 34 of 35 shots for a .971 save percentage, while San Jose’s Yaroslav Askarov turned aside 25 of 28 for an .893 mark. The Sharks outshot Calgary 35–29, but the Flames controlled the third period, scoring three times to secure the two points.

Calgary is off Friday, though the standings remain active. Four games are on the schedule, including Western Conference clubs such as the Anaheim Ducks, Winnipeg Jets, Utah Mammoth, Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights. Movement in the race is possible before the Flames return to the ice.

Calgary is back in action Saturday in Los Angeles against the Kings, with puck drop set for 5 p.m.

Strömgren Delivers Overtime Winner as Wranglers Extend Streak With 4-3 Road Victory

SAN JOSE — Calgary surged back from a first-period deficit with a three-goal second-period before finishing off a 4-3 victory over the San Jose Barracuda at Tech CU Arena on Saturday night.

San Jose opened the scoring at 6:23 of the first period when Oliver Wahlstrom converted off a feed from Kasper Halttunen, giving the Barracuda a 1-0 lead heading into the intermission.

The momentum shifted quickly after the break. Daniil Miromanov tied the game at 1:41 of the second period, finishing a play created by William Strömgren and Nick Cicek. Less than three minutes later, Strömgren put Calgary in front with his ninth goal of the season, igniting a stretch in which the Wranglers controlled possession and tempo.

Martin Frk extended the lead midway through the period, posting his 19th of the year, assists from Rory Kerins and Étienne Morin, to give Calgary a 3-1 advantage. San Jose responded late in the frame as Wahlstrom struck again on the power play, cutting the deficit to one before the second intermission.

The Barracuda forced overtime when Brendan Hoffmann found the equalizer with just over four minutes remaining in regulation, setting up a sudden-death finish between the Pacific Division rivals.

Calgary wasted little time settling matters in the extra frame. Just 48 seconds into overtime, Strömgren finished a setup from Kerins to secure the win, capping a three-point performance that earned him first-star honors.

The Wranglers outshot San Jose 43-36, with Ivan Prosvetov stopping 33 of 36 shots for a .917 save percentage. Laurent Brossoit made 39 saves on 43 shots (.917) for the Barracuda.

Calgary returns to Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday for a rematch with the Barracuda.

Miromanov ends it early in OT as Wranglers storm back to beat Condors 5-4

BAKERSFIELD — Calgary clawed back from multiple deficits Friday night and sealed a high-event Pacific Division thriller when Daniil Miromanov struck just 31 seconds into overtime, lifting the Wranglers to a 5-4 win over the Bakersfield Condors.

The night demanded resolve. The Wranglers trailed 3-1 midway through the game and again surrendered a late third-period lead before finding their finishing touch in extra time.

After Seth Griffith opened the scoring for Bakersfield at 5:48 of the first period, Calgary answered late when William Strömgren buried his eighth of the season at 19:02, finishing an opportunity generated by Rory Kerins and Miromanov to even the contest heading into intermission.

The Condors surged in the second. Alec Regula restored the lead at 2:47 before Ethan Keppen extended it at 7:39, pushing Bakersfield ahead 3-1 and putting Calgary on its heels.

Momentum shifted late in the frame.

Turner Ottenbreit scored his first career shorthanded goal at 18:05, assisted by Carter King and Sam Morton, cutting the deficit to one and injecting life into the Wranglers’ bench.

Calgary carried that energy into the third period. David Silye netted his first of the season at 10:04 to tie the game, but Atro Leppanen responded on the power play at 12:18 to restore Bakersfield’s advantage.

With 1:13 remaining and the net empty, Martin Frk stepped into space and wired home his 18th of the season to force overtime.

Extra time barely began before it ended. Off a quick sequence from Strömgren and Kerins, Miromanov jumped up in the play and finished at 0:31, completing the comeback and securing the two points.

Miromanov and Strömgren each finished with a goal and two assists, while Kerins added two helpers as Calgary outshot Bakersfield 33-29.

In goal, Arsenii Sergeev stopped 25 of 29 shots, posting a .862 save percentage while weathering key stretches of second-period pressure. Connor Ungar turned aside 28 of 33 shots for Bakersfield, finishing with a .848 save percentage.

Calgary now heads to San Jose to face the Barracuda at Tech CU Arena on Saturday night.

Canadiens Stun Avalanche as NHL Weekend Takes Shape

CALGARY — The Montreal Canadiens shocked the Colorado Avalanche Thursday night with a 7–3 win at the Bell Centre. That was Montreal’s 30th win of the season as they sit atop the wild-card standings in the Eastern Conference, and they handed Colorado just its eighth regulation loss of the season as the Avalanche continue on with their historically successful campaign.

Friday’s NHL schedule is unusually light, with only one other game across the league. The lone matchup has the Columbus Blue Jackets visiting the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center.

The Blue Jackets enter the night 7–3 in their last 10 games, though they remain 10 points outside of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, leaving significant ground to make up despite the recent surge.

Columbus is still adjusting under new head coach Rick Bowness, who was appointed Jan. 12 following the firing of Dean Evason. Bowness, 70, was brought in to provide structure, defensive improvement, and veteran leadership after previously coaching the Winnipeg Jets.

Chicago enters the weekend with a 21-24-9 record and sits eight points outside of a playoff position as it continues through a developmental season.

The league schedule ramps up Saturday with a full slate of 14 games. In Calgary, the Flames host the San Jose Sharks in a 2 p.m. MT matinee. The Flames are 21-26-6 on the season, tied at 48 points and sitting near the bottom of the Western Conference standings.

Elsewhere Saturday, the Canadiens travel to Western New York for a marquee matchup against the Buffalo Sabres. National attention will also follow the Toronto Maple Leafs as they visit the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena, with live coverage across all Provectus Media platforms from Vancouver on Saturday.

Colorado continues its road swing with an early start Saturday morning, visiting the Detroit Red Wings with puck drop scheduled for 11 a.m. MT.

Flames seize momentum on Hockey Day in Canada with 4–2 win over Islanders

CALGARY — The Calgary Flames leaned on opportunistic scoring and strong goaltending Saturday afternoon, defeating the New York Islanders 4–2 at Scotiabank Saddledome on Hockey Day in Canada to collect two critical points in the Western Conference playoff race.

Despite being outshot 30–19, Calgary converted its chances at key moments and received a composed performance from goaltender Dustin Wolf, improving to 21 wins and 46 points on the season.

Yegor Sharangovich opened the scoring late in the first period, snapping a wrist shot past Islanders netminder David Rittich at 11:51 after setup work from Rasmus Andersson and Kevin Bahl. The goal gave Calgary a 1–0 lead after a tightly contested opening frame.

The second period proved decisive not because of puck possession, but execution. While New York held a 9–7 edge in shots during the middle frame, the Flames struck three times in an eight-minute span.

Adam Klapka doubled the lead at 3:04 of the second with a net-front tip-in off a point shot from Bahl, with Morgan Frost also earning an assist. Justin Kirkland followed at 9:50, scoring his first goal of the season to make it 3–0 after taking a cross-slot feed from Ryan Lomberg and lifting a shot over Rittich. Yan Kuznetsov added another at 11:49, finishing a play created by Nazem Kadri and Connor Zary to cap the surge.

The Islanders responded quickly through Jean-Gabriel Pageau at 12:21 of the second, but Calgary’s early cushion held through the remainder of the period.

New York pushed hard in the third, and Islanders head coach Patrick Roy made an aggressive move by pulling Rittich for the extra attacker with more than eight minutes remaining. The extended six-on-five pressure produced a late goal from Anders Lee at 17:04, but that was as close as the Islanders would come as Calgary closed out the win.

Wolf finished the afternoon with 28 saves on 30 shots for a .933 save percentage, turning aside sustained pressure and limiting second chances. Rittich stopped 15 of 19 shots (0.789) for New York.

Three Stars

1. Kevin Bahl, CGY — Two assists and steady defensive play.

2. Adam Klapka, CGY — A goal and an assist.

3. Rasmus Andersson, CGY — 25:40 TOI and an assist in what could be his last game with the club.

Kirkland’s goal stood as the game-winner and reinforced a familiar formula for Calgary, which continues to find success when it generates enough offense to reach the four-goal mark.

The victory came in front of an announced crowd of 17,358 and carried notable standings implications. The Flames remain five points back of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference currently held by the San Jose Sharks. In the Pacific Division, Calgary trails the Vegas Golden Knights by 12 points, the Edmonton Oilers by eight, and the Seattle Kraken by five, keeping the race behind the division leader tightly contested.

Calgary has also made recent roster adjustments aimed at boosting its offense, including the recall of Matvei Gridin from the Calgary Wranglers. With eight games remaining before the Olympic break, the Flames enter a critical positioning window. Once play resumes, the stretch drive toward the Stanley Cup Playoffs truly begins.

Saturday’s performance offered a clear blueprint: efficient finishing, disciplined structure, and goaltending capable of holding the line. For a team still within reach, it was exactly the type of afternoon that keeps belief intact.

Late Goal Sinks Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome as Pacific Race Tightens

CALGARY -- The Calgary Flames fell 4–3 Saturday night, undone by a late third-period goal in a game that intersected with a busy day across the Western Conference standings.

Calgary opened the scoring just 1:56 into the first period when Yan Kuznetsov stepped into a slap shot from the point to make it 1–0. The lead was short-lived. Erik Haula tied the game midway through the period, then scored again less than two minutes later to put Nashville ahead 2–1.

The Flames answered late in the opening frame. Rasmus Andersson pulled Calgary even at 2–2, closing a first period that produced four goals in under 14 minutes.

Nashville regained the lead early in the second when Michael Bunting scored unassisted at 4:08, restoring a 3–2 advantage. Calgary pushed back again in the third period, with Blake Coleman finishing a play from Mikael Backlund and Matt Coronato at 12:49 to tie the game 3–3.

The tie held until the final minute. Nicolas Hague fired a slap shot past Calgary at 19:31 of the third, delivering the game-winning goal.

Dustin Wolf was the goalie of record for Calgary, stopping 32 of 36 shots for an .889 save percentage.

The result followed movement elsewhere in the Pacific Division earlier in the day. The Edmonton Oilers were defeated 5–2 by the Philadelphia Flyers, creating an opportunity for Calgary to close the gap in the standings. With the Flames losing in regulation, the distance remains six points between the two clubs.

Edmonton sits at 46 points, one point ahead of both the Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks, who are tied at 45. Further down the board, the Los Angeles Kings picked up a win over Minnesota, moving to 43 points and into a three-way tie atop the Western Conference wild-card race with the Seattle Kraken and San Jose Sharks.

Calgary’s margin to Edmonton stayed the same, but results elsewhere continued to compress the Western Conference playoff picture.

Flames sweep Flyers, tighten wild card race as Calgary hits season midpoint Saturday

CALGARY -- The Calgary Flames strengthened their position in the Western Conference wild card race Wednesday night with a 5–1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, completing a 2–0 season series sweep.

Mikael Backlund opened the scoring at 13:30 of the first period, unloading a slap shot after receiving passes from Matt Coronato and Blake Coleman. Calgary carried a 1–0 lead into the intermission despite being outshot early.

Jonathan Huberdeau made it 2–0 just 3:08 into the second period, finishing a setup from MacKenzie Weegar and Yan Kuznetsov. Philadelphia briefly pulled within one when Travis Konecny scored unassisted at 8:49, but Calgary answered later in the period.

Rasmus Andersson restored the two-goal lead on the power play at 12:03, converting off passes from Connor Zary and Nazem Kadri. Yegor Sharangovich added another power-play goal at 17:52, snapping a shot past the Flyers with Coronato and Weegar recording the assists. Calgary took a 4–1 lead into the second intermission.

Connor Zary capped the scoring at 9:37 of the third period, finishing a play created by Ryan Lomberg to put the game out of reach. Calgary finished with 25 shots, went 2-for-3 on the power play, won 54.5 percent of the faceoffs, and limited Philadelphia to one goal.

The win moves the Flames to 40 points through 40 games, placing them fourth in the Western Conference wild card standings and just outside the playoff picture. Calgary sits six points back of the Pacific Division lead, currently held by Edmonton at 46 points. The Flames have 18 wins on the season, compared to Edmonton’s 20. The Oilers lost 6–2 to Boston on Wednesday, two nights after Calgary defeated the Bruins 2–1 at the Saddledome.

Calgary will reach the halfway point of its season Saturday when it hosts the Nashville Predators in a 5:00 pm MT matchup. Both teams enter with 40 points, though Nashville holds one game in hand. The Flames then host the Seattle Kraken on Monday at 7:30 pm MT before heading out on a five-game road trip through Montreal, Boston, Pittsburgh, Columbus, and Chicago.

On the international stage, Canada closed the preliminary round at the World Juniors with a 7–4 win over Finland and will face Slovakia in the quarterfinals on Friday, Jan. 2. The semifinals are scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 4, with the final set for Monday, Jan. 5.

The Calgary Wranglers are also in action at the Saddledome this week, hosting Colorado on Thursday, Tucson on Friday, and Tucson again on Sunday.

Calgary defeats Boston 2-1 in overtime behind 24-save night from Wolf

CALGARY — The Calgary Flames earned a 2–1 overtime win over the Boston Bruins on Monday night at Scotiabank Saddledome.

Blake Coleman scored for Calgary, beating Jeremy Swayman seven hole for his 12th goal of the season, while Dustin Wolf turned aside 24 of 25 shots in goal for a .960 save percentage.

The game went to overtime, where it ended in unusual fashion. A Bruins own goal sealed the result, with Connor Zary credited for the winner.

The victory was Calgary’s 17th of the season. The Flames move to 38 points and sit one point outside of a playoff spot.

Calgary is back in action on New Year’s Eve, hosting the Philadelphia Flyers at the Saddledome. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. MT.

Earlier in the evening, Canada defeated Denmark 9–1 at the World Junior Championship in Minnesota. Zayne Parekh recorded a goal and an assist as Canada picked up its second three-point win of the tournament.

Canada now leads Group B with eight points and will close out the preliminary round against Finland on New Year’s Eve at 7:30 p.m. CST. Finland sits second with seven points, with first place in the group on the line.

Oilers’ Power Play Dominates Battle of Alberta as Edmonton Tops Calgary

CALGARY — The margin in the Battle of Alberta was not subtle. It was structural.

Edmonton’s power play dictated the night through constant motion, quick reads, and pressure that never allowed Calgary’s penalty killers to settle. The puck carrier was always moving, changing direction, pulling coverage apart. It was less about one look and more about forcing defenders into continuous decisions. Calgary never found its footing.

The Oilers were given five power-play opportunities. Against a unit built on pace and precision, that was too many.

Leon Draisaitl converted three times on the man advantage, completing a power-play hat trick, while Connor McDavid conducted the game with control and timing that bent coverage until it broke. Edmonton’s power play did not rely on static setups or stationary shooters. It flowed, reset, and attacked again, using movement as the primary weapon.

Calgary briefly responded at even strength when MacKenzie Weegar struck from the blue line late in the first period to level the score. It was a moment of pushback, but it did not shift the underlying momentum. Penalties continued to pile up, and Edmonton continued to capitalize.

By the third period, the game had tilted decisively. Edmonton extended its lead and closed with authority, turning discipline and execution into separation on the scoreboard.

The win marks Edmonton’s 19th of the season and pulls the Oilers into a tie for first place in the Pacific Division with Vegas and Anaheim at 44 points heading into the Christmas break. It is a position earned through consistency and reinforced by elite special teams.

For Calgary, the picture remains tight but complicated. The Flames sit at 15 wins and 34 points. They are only five points out of a playoff spot, but five teams stand between them and the final wild card position in the Western Conference. The math keeps them in the race. The margins leave little room for nights like this.

Discipline is not a detail against teams like Edmonton. It is the difference.

At the break, the standings show separation. On the ice, the power play made it unmistakable.

Flames Rally Past Kraken 4-2 at Saddledome as Wolf Stops 21 in Third-Period Comeback

CALGARY – The Calgary Flames earned a 4-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Thursday night at Scotiabank Saddledome, completing a third-period comeback built on special teams execution and standout goaltending.

Seattle carried a 2-1 lead into the final frame after second-period goals from Chandler Stephenson and Kaapo Kakko. Stephenson opened the scoring in the period at 7:52, finishing a backhand chance, while Kakko restored Seattle’s lead late with a power-play goal at 17:16.

Calgary responded decisively in the third.

Nazem Kadri tied the game at 10:04 of the period, converting a power-play one-timer for his eighth goal of the season. Rasmus Andersson and Morgan Frost provided the assists on the equalizer, which came during a stretch where the Flames applied sustained pressure.

Just over a minute later, Matt Coronato delivered the go-ahead goal. At 11:19 of the third, Coronato snapped a glove-side shot past Seattle goaltender Joey Daccord for his 11th goal of the season, extending his team lead. Andersson recorded his second assist of the night, while Jonathan Huberdeau picked up the secondary assist, marking the 800th point of his NHL career.

Seattle pushed late, but Calgary held structure in the closing minutes. Captain Mikael Backlund added an empty-net goal with under eight seconds remaining to secure the result, his seventh of the season.

Dustin Wolf anchored the comeback with a composed performance in goal, stopping 21 shots and earning the win.

The victory marked Calgary’s 14th win of the season and moved the Flames to 32 points in the Western Conference standings. With the result, Calgary leapfrogged both Seattle and Nashville and sits five points out of a playoff spot.

Final score:

Calgary Flames 4

Seattle Kraken 2

Flames Win Shootout Thriller, Wranglers Earn Road Victory, and Calgary Teams Prep for Busy Week

CALGARY — The Calgary Flames and Calgary Wranglers both delivered 3 to 2 victories on Saturday night, giving the city a clean sweep across the NHL and AHL while setting the tone for one of the busiest weeks of the season for Calgary hockey fans.

At the Saddledome, the Flames edged the Dallas Stars 3 to 2 in a shootout, with Nazem Kadri burying the winner and Devin Cooley turning in another composed, confident performance. Cooley entered the night carrying a 1.80 goals against average and a .935 save percentage, and he gave Calgary exactly the kind of calm presence they needed against a Dallas lineup featuring elite offensive threats. Calgary generated timely scoring, defended well late, and finished the job when the skills competition rolled around. Kadri’s finish sealed it, and Cooley shut the door to complete the win.

While the Flames were grinding out their victory at home, the Wranglers were doing the same in San Diego. After giving up the opening goal, Calgary responded with purpose. Martin Frk tied the game in the first period with assists from Matvei Gridin and Rory Kerins. Justin Kirkland followed it up with a powerplay strike to give the Wranglers the lead, and Gridin extended it in the second period with his seventh of the season. San Diego pushed back with a late goal, but Ivan Prosvetov handled the final moments with confidence, finishing with 30 saves on 32 shots. Frk led the way with a three-point night, while both Kerins and Gridin posted two point games.

It was a strong showing from both Flames affiliates, but the schedule now tightens. The Flames are back at it right away with a Sunday night matchup in Vancouver against the Canucks at 7 pm. That game kicks off a tough three-game stretch that includes Tampa Bay on Wednesday, the defending champion Florida Panthers on Friday, and a visit to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday to close out the month of November. It is a challenging run that will test Calgary’s structure, depth, and goaltending.

The Wranglers face their own quick turnaround with a road game today at 3 pm MT against the Coachella Valley Firebirds at Acrisure Arena. After that, they visit the San Jose Barracuda on Wednesday as they continue their California swing. With Frk, Kerins, and Gridin producing at a high level, the Wranglers remain one of the most consistent offensive teams in the AHL’s Pacific Division.

Calgary hockey extended beyond the NHL and AHL on Saturday night as well. In major junior action, the Calgary Hitmen fell in a high-scoring 7 to 6 game in Medicine Hat. The Hitmen return home right away for a 4 pm matchup at the Scotiabank Saddledome, giving Calgary fans yet another home event in a packed weekend.

It was a full night for hockey in Calgary, and both the Flames and Wranglers delivered results that matched the effort. With big games coming across every level of the sport in the next few days, the city is stepping into one of the most compelling stretches of the season.

Wranglers fall 5 to 2 in Bakersfield as Condors surge late for home victory

CALGARY -- The Calgary Wranglers could not turn early momentum into a road win on Tuesday night, falling 5 to 2 to the Bakersfield Condors in a game that slipped away during a tough second period. Calgary opened the scoring and traded goals through forty minutes, but Bakersfield’s depth and timely finishing took over late as the Condors pulled away with two empty netters to seal the result.

Martin Frk opened the scoring for Calgary just over four minutes in, finishing a touch pass from Matvei Gridin, the 2024 first round pick who continues to show poise and creativity. Bakersfield answered quickly and the teams went into the intermission even.

William Strömgren restored the lead for the Wranglers early in the second period on the power play, set up by Frk and goaltender Ivan Prosvetov who earned his first assist of the season. But Bakersfield surged with two goals in just over a minute, including a power play strike from Quinn Hutson, shifting the game’s momentum for good.

Josh Samanski, the German Canadian forward who joined the Edmonton Oilers organization in 2025, added a goal and an assist to lead the Condors. Isaac Howard scored twice, including an empty netter, while Roby Järventie also hit the vacant cage to put the game out of reach. Calgary outshot Bakersfield 27 to 26 but could not solve the Condors’ structure in the third period.

Gridin continued to be a bright spot for the Wranglers, building on the strong start to his AHL career as a Flames first round pick. Frk added a multi point night, and Strömgren’s power play goal marked another important step in his development.

The Wranglers now look to regroup as they continue their road stretch and aim to tighten their defensive details heading into their next matchup in San Diego on Saturday night.

Wranglers Fall 5-2 in Henderson as Road Trip Continues on Grey Cup Sunday

The Calgary Wranglers saw their comeback fall short on Sunday, dropping a 5-2 decision to the Henderson Silver Knights in Game 2 of their extended 10-game, 21-day road trip. Calgary scored twice in the third period to make things interesting, but an early 4-0 hole proved too much to overcome less than 24 hours after their 6-4 win at the same rink.

The Silver Knights came out flying, scoring four times through 40 minutes, including goals from Davies, Cormier, Johansen and Connelly. Henderson controlled most of the run of play early, outshooting Calgary heavily through the first half of the game and making life difficult for rookie goaltender Owen Say, who playing in his eigth game this year. Say settled in as the game went on and finished with 28 saves on 32 shots, good for an .875 save percentage.

At the other end, former NHL netminder Carter Hart turned aside all 10 shots he faced through 40 minutes. Hart, who returned to professional hockey this fall after being found not guilty along with four others in the 2025 World Junior case, finished with 12 saves on 14 shots for an .857 save percentage.

The Wranglers finally broke through in the third period, generating their best pressure of the night. Matvei Gridin cut the deficit to 4-1 before Daniil Miromanov scored to make it 4-2 with just over four minutes remaining. Jaycob Megna iced it for Henderson with a short handed goal at the buzzer.

Despite the loss, the Wranglers split the weekend series and move to 1-1 on their 10-game road swing, which continues Tuesday in Bakersfield.

Meanwhile in Calgary, the Flames rest on Grey Cup Sunday following last night’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Winnipeg Jets. Fans across Canada paused their game-day routines as the nation turns its attention to Winnipeg as quarterback Trevor Harris and the Saskatchewan Roughriders defeated the Montreal Alouettes 25-17 for the championship, but the AHL grind continues uninterrupted—and the Wranglers’ road-heavy schedule means plenty more late starts, mileage, and momentum swings ahead.

Next up: Wranglers at Condors, Tuesday night, 7:30 pm MT.

Flames Fall in Shootout to Jets as Wranglers Win 6-4 Behind Frk’s Hat Trick and 200th AHL Goal

Calgary fans were treated to a full slate of hockey on Saturday night. At the Scotiabank Saddledome, the Flames hosted the defending Presidents Trophy champion Winnipeg Jets in a tight, emotional matchup that needed a shootout to find a winner. Meanwhile, down in Henderson, the Calgary Wranglers opened their road trip with a wild 6-4 win over the Silver Knights powered by a historic night from Martin Frk.

Flames and Jets Trade Blows in Calgary

It was another charged atmosphere at the Saddledome for 90s Night as the Jets opened the scoring early. A heavy collision between Backlund and Honzek at the Jets blue line briefly shook the building, and moments later Winnipeg capitalized with a goal from Mark Scheifele.

Calgary answered back quickly. Defenseman Jake Bean ripped home his first of the season from the point, assisted by Braden Pahal and Jonathan Huberdeau. The Jets responded again when Tanner Pearson finished a well-executed rush set up by Luke Schenn.

The third period brought more chaos. Winnipeg grabbed a 3-2 lead when Cole Perfetti tapped in a loose puck off a Connor shot that slipped through Dustin Wolf. But the Flames refused to go away. With under two minutes left, Matt Coronato tied the game with a perfect shot from the slot. The building erupted as Calgary forced extra time.

Neither team found the winner in overtime, sending it to a shootout where Gabe Vilardi sealed it for Winnipeg. The Flames collected an important point and showed impressive pushback against one of the league’s strongest teams. Shots finished 34-28 for Calgary.

Wranglers Outgun Henderson Behind Frk’s 200th AHL Goal

Down in Nevada, the Wranglers opened their road trip with an explosive performance. Martin Frk wasted no time, scoring just 18 seconds into the game for his 200th career AHL goal. Henderson answered, but Justin Kirkland restored the lead late in the first with his first goal as a Wrangler.

The second period looked shaky early as the Silver Knights struck twice to go up 3-2. But the Wranglers responded with their best stretch of the night. William Stromgren scored his first of the season to spark a three-goal surge in under ten minutes. Henderson added one late, but Calgary carried a 5-4 lead into the third.

Frk would not be denied his moment. His empty netter completed the hat trick and sealed the win, giving him a four-point night. Stromgren finished with three points and Ivan Prosvetov made 30 saves in the victory.

The Wranglers and Silver Knights meet again Sunday at 6 pm MT, with Calgary aiming to sweep the back-to-back.

Night Summary

Between a shootout thriller at the Dome and a milestone-filled win on the road, it was a strong night for hockey in Calgary. Both clubs continue their push toward the quarter mark of the season with momentum on their side.

Flames shut out Sharks 2–0 behind Wolf’s 16-save gem as Skinner exits with injury

CALGARY — The Calgary Flames snapped their three-game losing streak and halted the San Jose Sharks’ momentum with a 2–0 win Thursday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Goaltender Dustin Wolf posted his first shutout of the 2025-26 season by stopping all 16 shots he faced, standing tall as the difference in the contest. Calgary broke through when veteran Blake Coleman ripped a high shot at 5:46 of the second period after forcing a turnover. Rookie Sam Honzek sealed the win with an empty-net tally in the final seconds.

The night’s turning point came even before the score sheet filled. Sharks forward Jeff Skinner collided hard into the boards in the opening period and exited the game without putting any weight on his leg. A local physician at ice level told reporters the impact and Skinner’s reaction were consistent with a tibia or fibula fracture. At the time of the game, the Sharks had not released an official update.

Calgary dominated the shots early, outshooting San Jose 13-1 in the first period and 27-6 after two, but relied on disciplined defensive structure and timely plays to preserve the lead. Wolf remained sharp throughout, particularly when San Jose pulled the goaltender for an extra attacker late in the third.

With the result, the Flames improved to 5-12-2 and snapped a slide, while San Jose fell to 8-7-3 and will now await an update on one of their key forwards. Calgary now shifts its focus to converting strong starts into deeper momentum through the remainder of the season.

Wranglers Extend Point Streak to Six as Gridin Scores Shootout Winner in Abbotsford

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. — The Calgary Wranglers extended their point streak to six games with a 2–1 shootout win over the Abbotsford Canucks on Wednesday night, finishing their two-game road set with another strong defensive showing and efficient goaltending.

Abbotsford opened the scoring in the first, but Calgary weathered early pressure and began to tilt the ice in the second period. Goaltender Ivan Prosvetov kept the Wranglers within one, turning aside several high-danger chances before the skaters in front of him found their rhythm.

The equalizer came midway through the third when Daniil Miromanov beat Abbotsford’s Jiri Patera. Matvei Gridin and David Silye drew the assists as the Wranglers pressed, outshooting the Canucks 9–5 in overtime and closing the night with a 30–26 edge in total shots.

In the shootout, Gridin—Calgary Flames’ 2024 first-round pick (28th overall)—clinched the win as the third shooter. The 19-year-old rookie from Kurgan, Russia, now with eight points through six AHL games, continues to show poise beyond his years after a 79-point QMJHL season and four-game NHL debut with the Flames earlier this fall.

Prosvetov, also Russian-born, finished with 25 saves on 26 shots, earning first-star honours. Miromanov’s goal was his second point in four AHL games this season, and the Wranglers’ special teams struggled going 0/1 on the penalty kill and 0/2 with the man advantage.

Calgary, now 4-2-2 — third in the Pacific Division, heads home for a weekend series against the Oilers’ AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors on November 1 and 2. Both games are set for 1:00 p.m. MT at the Scotiabank Saddledome, followed by a mid-week series with the San Jose Barracuda on November 6 and 8.

Fans can catch all the action live on AHLTV via FloHockey at flosports.link/46YqCIJ.

Blue Jays Face Elimination in ALCS Game 6 as NHL Sunday Delivers Wins for Canucks and Red Wings

CALGARY — The Toronto Blue Jays return home tonight with their season on the line in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series. Down 3–2 to the Seattle Mariners, Toronto must win both Sunday and Monday at Rogers Centre to advance to the World Series. Right-hander Trey Yasavage gets the ball for the Jays opposite Seattle’s Logan Gilbert.

The National League bracket is already set. The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated Milwaukee to clinch the NL pennant and will await the winner of the ALCS when the World Series opens Friday.

Around the NHL on Sunday afternoon, the Vancouver Canucks held off the Washington Capitals 4–3 in D.C. Tyler Myers scored and added an assist while Thatcher Demko made 28 saves. In Detroit, Dylan Larkin recorded four points (two goals, two assists) to power the Red Wings past the Edmonton Oilers 4–2 for their fifth straight victory. Two more games close out the Sunday slate later tonight as Anaheim visits Chicago and Utah hosts Boston.

In the AHL, the Calgary Wranglers earned their first point of the season but fell 5–4 in overtime to the Tucson Roadrunners after staging a three-goal third-period comeback. Matvei Gridin scored his first AHL goal in his debut and Rory Kerins delivered back-to-back goals, including the late equalizer with 38 seconds left. Calgary returns to the ice in Tucson again tonight before their home opener at the Saddledome on October 24 against Coachella Valley.

The Calgary Flames are idle Sunday after a 6–1 loss in Vegas on Saturday night. Jonathan Huberdeau scored in his return to the lineup but the Golden Knights flexed with multi-point nights from Mark Stone, Jack Eichel and others.

A decisive week now takes shape: the Blue Jays either extend their season or exit short of the World Series, the Flames regroup after a difficult start, and the Wranglers look to convert competitive third periods into wins when they return home.

Blue Jays Face Two-Win Elimination Test at Home as Dodgers Clinch NL Pennant and NHL Heats Up

CALGARY — The Toronto Blue Jays enter Sunday facing the cleanest math in sports: win twice at home or watch the World Series without them. After dragging the ALCS back to even, Seattle seized Game 5 on Friday with a decisive eighth-inning surge to tilt the series back their way. That loss has put renewed focus on John Schneider’s bullpen decisions, after two of Toronto’s best arms never left the bench.

Game 6 goes Sunday at Rogers Centre. If the Jays extend the series, Game 7 would also be in Toronto on Monday with a World Series berth on the line.

Around the NHL, Colorado leads the league in points and Carolina remains undefeated. Vegas continues to look like a heavyweight, with Jack Eichel pacing league scoring and the Golden Knights holding three of the top nine spots league-wide. Alexander Ovechkin scored career goal 898 on Friday, while Buffalo delivered a 3–0 shutout of the defending champion Panthers, with Josh Doan scoring the winner on the power play.

In Calgary, the Flames sit last with two points and visit Vegas tonight. According to Tankathon, the Flames currently hold the highest lottery odds for 2026, positioning them in range for Gavin McKenna — the Whitehorse-born phenom now playing NCAA Division I at Penn State after a 129-point WHL season. The Wranglers open a two-game set in Tucson after back-to-back losses to Colorado; Dryden Hunt leads Calgary in goals.

In the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers swept Milwaukee to win the NLCS, with Shohei Ohtani crushing three home runs in the clincher. The World Series begins Friday with the Dodgers awaiting the winner of Toronto and Seattle.

Blue Jays open ALCS, Wranglers fall in Colorado, Flames host Vegas Tuesday night showdown

CALGARY — October sports are hitting full stride across Canada, with playoff baseball and early-season hockey all colliding this week.

The Toronto Blue Jays continue their World Series run as they host the Seattle Mariners in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series. Kevin Gausman gets the start, backed by a deep rotation that includes Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt. Bo Bichette remains out after missing the division series, but Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been on fire, and the Jays have been getting balanced production throughout the lineup — exactly the kind of depth needed to go the distance in October.

In the AHL, goaltender Owen Say made his first start for the Calgary Wranglers on Saturday night and impressed in his debut, stopping 21 of 22 shots in a 1–0 loss to the Colorado Eagles. The Wranglers return home to reset before heading to Tucson for a weekend series against the Roadrunners.

And in the NHL, the Calgary Flames prepare for a marquee Tuesday night matchup at the Scotiabank Saddledome against the Vegas Golden Knights. Both teams will be looking for their second win of the season. Vegas forward Pavel Dorofeev leads the NHL with five goals in three games, while Jack Eichel sits atop the league with seven points. Expect the Dome to be buzzing for this one.