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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AHL Playoff Picture Taking Shape
Calgary heads into Sunday’s rematch with Manitoba looking to keep momentum after Friday’s 7–2 win at the Saddledome. With seven teams qualifying from the Pacific Division and several clubs clustered in the middle of the standings, the Wranglers still have room to climb as the AHL schedule moves deeper into its final stretch.
CALGARY — The American Hockey League standings are beginning to take shape as the season moves into its final stretch, with a few clubs already securing their place in the postseason.
At the top of the league, the Grand Rapids Griffins (90 points) and the Providence Bruins (89 points) have already clinched playoff spots in their respective divisions, setting the pace across the AHL.
In the Pacific Division, the Ontario Reign currently lead with 80 points, followed by the Colorado Eagles (78) and San Jose Barracuda (74). Several teams remain tightly grouped behind them as the race for positioning continues.
From a Calgary perspective, the Calgary Wranglers picked up an important result Friday night at the Saddledome, earning a 7-2 win over the Manitoba Moose. The victory leaves Calgary eight points outside a playoff position in the Pacific Division.
The format in the division allows seven teams to qualify for the playoffs, meaning the path is still there for the Wranglers if they can continue collecting points down the stretch.
Calgary is back in action Sunday at noon, again facing the Manitoba Moose, in what could become another opportunity to chip away at the gap in the standings as the final weeks of the AHL regular season approach.
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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Firebirds strike three times in second period to defeat Wranglers 4–1
Calgary stayed level through one period before Coachella Valley tilted the afternoon with a three-goal surge in the middle frame. Justin Kirkland scored the Wranglers’ lone goal on the power play while Ivan Prosvetov handled a heavy workload in net. Calgary now sits six points outside of a playoff spot with 15 games remaining.
Photo by David Moll / Calgary Wranglers
PALM DESERT, Calif. — A scoreless opening period gave way to a decisive middle frame Sunday as the Coachella Valley Firebirds scored three times in the second period to defeat the Calgary Wranglers 4–1.
Both teams traded chances through the opening twenty minutes but neither side found the breakthrough.
Coachella Valley opened the scoring 2:27 into the second period when Eduard Šalé finished a play set up by Oscar Fisker Mølgaard and Lukas Dragicevic.
Calgary answered midway through the period. Justin Kirkland tied the game 5:39 into the frame, converting on the power play for his seventh goal of the season.
The tie lasted less than two minutes.
At 7:32, Kaden Hammell restored the Firebirds lead with assists from John Hayden and Mitchell Stephens, and Coachella Valley extended the advantage again at 12:28 when Logan Morrison scored his 26th goal of the season off passes from Jani Nyman and Jagger Firkus.
Šalé added his second of the afternoon into the empty net at 17:53, assisted by Lleyton Roed and Ty Nelson, sealing the 4–1 final.
Coachella Valley outshot Calgary 36–16 in the game.
Firebirds goaltender Victor Östman stopped 15 of 16 shots for a .938 save percentage, while Wranglers netminder Ivan Prosvetov made 32 saves on 35 shots (.914).
Calgary finished 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Wranglers penalty kill denied all four Firebirds opportunities.
Earlier in the day, the Calgary Flames recalled forward Matvei Gridin and defenceman Hunter Brzustewicz from the Wranglers.
Gridin has recorded 10 goals and 29 points in 37 AHL games this season and has also appeared in 18 NHL games with the Flames, posting three goals and seven points.
Brzustewicz has played 18 games for the Flames this season, registering one goal and two points, while contributing four goals and 14 points in 34 games with the Wranglers.
With the regular season entering its final stretch, Calgary now sits six points outside of a playoff spot in the AHL’s Pacific Division with 15 games remaining, keeping the Wranglers within striking distance of the postseason as the schedule winds down.
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Wranglers rally late but fall 4-2 to Firebirds in 40-shot effort
The Calgary Wranglers pushed the pace all night and outshot the Coachella Valley Firebirds 40-21, but a second-period surge led by Lucas Ciona and Dryden Hunt was not enough in a 4-2 setback in Palm Desert. Calgary controlled possession and generated chances throughout, yet Firebirds goaltender Nikke Kokko delivered a standout performance at Acrisure Arena.
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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Wranglers Rally, Fall in Six-Round Shootout to Abbotsford
Calgary erased a two-goal deficit in the third period before falling 3–2 in a six-round shootout to Abbotsford, outshooting the Canucks 38–19 and collecting a point with 17 games remaining in the regular season.
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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Sergeev Stops 40, Frk Hits 20 as Wranglers Fall 3–2 in Shootout to Abbotsford
A four-goal third period sent the game to a shootout, where Sergeev’s 40-save effort and Frk’s 20th goal were not enough as Calgary fell 3–2 at the Saddledome.
(Photo by David Moll / Calgary Wranglers)
CALGARY — A four-goal third period sent Friday’s matchup to a shootout, where the Calgary Wranglers fell 3–2 to the Abbotsford Canucks at Scotiabank Saddledome.
Arsenii Sergeev stopped 40 of 42 shots for a .952 save percentage, and Martin Frk tied the game midway through the third with his 20th goal of the season, reaching that mark for the fourth consecutive AHL campaign.
The point moves Calgary to within three points of a Pacific Division playoff spot as the stretch drive continues.
Abbotsford broke through 52 seconds into the third period when Ben Berard scored his 12th of the season. Calgary responded quickly. Sam Morton tied the game at 3:36, finishing off a play set up by Dryden Hunt, who recorded his 27th assist in his return to the lineup.
Lukas Reichel restored Abbotsford’s lead at 9:28 of the third before Frk answered again at 11:13, wiring his 20th goal of the season off feeds from William Strömgren and Justin Kirkland.
Neither side converted in overtime, sending the game to a shootout. Abbotsford converted on both of its attempts to seal the extra point.
Jiří Patera stopped 32 of 34 shots for the Canucks, posting a .941 save percentage in the victory.
Calgary’s penalty kill units went 1-for-1, while they finished 0-for-3 on the power play.
The two clubs meet again Sunday afternoon at the Saddledome.
Barracuda answer quickly, defeat Wranglers 4-2 in Calgary
Calgary erased a two-goal deficit in the second period, but the tie lasted only 25 seconds as San Jose responded immediately and pulled away late.
(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
Calgary carried a 3-1 lead into the third period behind goals from Aydar Suniev, Rory Kerins and Nick Cicek before a four-goal surge from San Jose flipped momentum late at Scotiabank Saddledome. Kerins recorded a multi-point night as the Wranglers opened a four-game homestand against the Barracuda.
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.
Wranglers Open Homestand as Playoff Push Intensifies
Three straight wins. Fifteen points from the top line. Twenty-one overtime games already this season. Calgary heads into a home stretch with momentum and a playoff spot within reach.
CALGARY — Riding a three-game winning streak and sitting just two points back of a playoff spot, Calgary returns to Scotiabank Saddledome with momentum building around a group finding rhythm at the right time of the season.
The line of Martin Frk, William Strömgren, and Rory Kerins has powered much of Calgary’s recent surge, combining for 15 points over the last three games. Strömgren arrives following a six-point weekend, while defenceman Daniil Miromanov continues to drive offence from the back end with nine points across his last six outings.
The Wranglers have already played 21 overtime or shootout games through 51 contests, putting them within range of the AHL single-season record of 29 set by Milwaukee in 2006-07.
The schedule begins Tuesday with back-to-back matchups against the San Jose Barracuda at 7 p.m. MT before shifting to a pair of afternoon games against the Abbotsford Canucks Friday and Sunday 1 p.m. at Scotiabank Saddledome.
Strömgren Delivers Overtime Winner as Wranglers Extend Streak With 4-3 Road Victory
Calgary responded with a dominant second-period surge before securing a dramatic overtime win in San Jose, powered by timely scoring and strong goaltending against a persistent Barracuda push.
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
Calgary erased a two-goal deficit and answered a late power-play setback before Daniil Miromanov delivered 31 seconds into overtime. With multi-point performances from Miromanov and William Strömgren, the Wranglers outlasted Bakersfield in a momentum-swinging Pacific Division matchup.
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.
Kerins scores twice, Gridin seals shootout win as Wranglers snap six-game skid vs Moose
A two-goal performance from Rory Kerins and a perfect shootout from Arsenii Sergeev set the stage for rookie Matvei Gridin’s decisive finish, as the Wranglers secured a momentum-building road win in Winnipeg.
WINNIPEG — The Calgary Wranglers snapped a six-game losing streak Monday afternoon, defeating the Manitoba Moose 3-2 in a shootout in American Hockey League action.
The Moose opened the scoring in the first period when Ville Heinola found the back of the net at 13:37, finishing a play set up by Mason Shaw and David Gustafsson. Manitoba doubled its lead in the second period as Gustafsson scored at 13:09, with Heinola recording the assist.
Calgary responded later in the second period when Rory Kerins gave the Wranglers life on the power play, converting at 16:55 off feeds from Sam Morton and Matvei Gridin. The momentum carried into the third period, where Kerins struck again at 15:41, cleaning up a bouncing puck in front of the net to tie the game. Daniil Miromanov and Martin Frk were credited with the assists.
Overtime solved nothing, sending the game to a shootout. Rookie Matvei Gridin scored the decisive goal, while Arsenii Sergeev shut the door, denying attempts from Nikita Chibrikov, Danny Zhilkin, and Heinola to secure the victory.
Sergeev stopped 25 of 27 shots for a .926 save percentage and was perfect in the shootout. At the other end, Domenic DiVincentiis delivered a strong performance for Manitoba, turning aside 38 of 40 shots for a .950 save percentage to help push the game beyond regulation.
The Wranglers finished 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Moose went 0-for-1.
Around the hockey world earlier in the day, Team Canada advanced to the gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, defeating Switzerland 2-1 in semifinal action. Marie-Philip Poulin scored both goals for Canada, recording her 19th and 20th Olympic tallies to surpass Hayley Wickenheiser as the country’s all-time Olympic goal-scoring leader. Canada will face the United States for gold on Thursday.
Calgary now heads to Bakersfield to face the Condors at Dignity Health Arena on Friday, February 20, with puck drop scheduled for 8:00 p.m. MT.
Perunovich Caps Wild Back-and-Forth Night With OT Power-Play Winner
A wild 11-goal battle at Scotiabank Saddledome featured lead changes, physical moments and nonstop pace, as Calgary pushed throughout before an overtime winner decided a dramatic Saturday night clash.
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 controlled early momentum and struck first on the power play, but a fast-paced second period saw Tucson generate sustained offense and build separation in a high-event Pacific Division matchup at Scotiabank Saddledome.
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.
Wranglers Fall 7–2 in San Jose as Barracuda Pull Away Late
After answering early, Calgary struggled to stem the tide as San Jose tilted the ice over the final 40 minutes, turning a close game into a lopsided result despite a two-goal night from Sam Morton.
SAN JOSE — The Calgary Wranglers dropped the second game of their back-to-back Saturday night, falling 7–2 to the San Jose Barracuda at Tech CU Arena as the home side pulled away over the final 40 minutes.
San Jose struck first just 1:33 into the game when Braden Hache opened the scoring, finishing a play set up by Colin White and Egor Afanasyev. Calgary responded midway through the opening period as Sam Morton scored unassisted, tying the game and briefly slowing the Barracuda’s early momentum.
That push proved short-lived. San Jose took control in the second period, restoring the lead 31 seconds in on a goal by Oliver Wahlstrom before adding two more as the frame wore on. Mattias Hävelid and Anthony Vincent both found the net as the Barracuda turned sustained zone time into offense. Morton answered again for Calgary at 10:34 of the second, converting a feed from Rory Kerins for his second goal of the night, but San Jose continued to dictate play.
The Barracuda put the game out of reach in the third period, opening the frame with a goal from Afanasyev before adding tallies from Cam Lund and Filip Bystedt to close out the scoring. San Jose finished the night with seven goals on 28 shots, spreading offense throughout the lineup and scoring in every period.
Calgary used both goaltenders over the course of the game. Ivan Prosvetov allowed four goals on 17 shots over 30:03 of ice time, finishing with a .765 save percentage. Arsenii Sergeev followed in relief, stopping eight of 11 shots over 29:57 for a .727 save percentage. At the other end, San Jose leaned on Gabriel Carriere, who turned aside 22 of 24 shots for a .917 save percentage in 59:28 of work to earn the win.
Bystedt led the way offensively for San Jose with a goal and two assists, earning first-star honors. Morton was named the second star after accounting for both of Calgary’s goals, while Afanasyev added a goal and an assist to round out the three stars.
The Wranglers finished the night 0-for-1 on the power play, while the Barracuda were also held scoreless on four man-advantage opportunities. At even strength, however, San Jose outscored Calgary 6–1 over the final two periods and held a slight edge in shots, 28–24.
Calgary will look to reset as the road trip continues Tuesday night in Bakersfield before the team returns home later in the week for a two-game set against Tucson ahead of the AHL All-Star break.
Barracuda Pull Away From Wranglers Behind Special Teams Surge
An early Calgary goal gave way to a special-teams swing as San Jose took control in the middle frame and never looked back.
SAN JOSE — The Calgary Wranglers dropped the opener of their three-game road trip Friday night, falling 5–1 to the San Jose Barracuda at Tech CU Arena.
Calgary opened the scoring late in the first period when Sam Morton struck at 16:19, finishing a play set up by Zayne Parekh and Dryden Hunt.
San Jose responded in the second period and seized control through special teams. Donavan Houle tied the game at 7:14 before a power-play goal from Filip Bystedt at 11:48, with assists from Luca Cagnoni and Colin White.
The Barracuda extended the lead in the third period with a short-handed goal by Anthony Vincent at 3:21, followed by another power-play marker from Cam Lund at 7:12, assisted by Egor Afanasyev and Kasper Halttunen. Nolan Allan capped the scoring at 7:27, with Vincent recording the assist.
In goal, Ivan Prosvetov stopped 37 of 42 shots for Calgary (.881 save percentage), while Laurent Brossoit turned aside 22 of 23 shots for San Jose (.957 save percentage).
Vincent, who finished with a goal and an assist, was named the game’s first star. Bystedt and Lund earned second and third star honors, respectively.
The Wranglers remain in San Jose and face the Barracuda again Saturday night, with puck drop set for 7:00 p.m. MT.
Rocket score twice in third, beat Wranglers 5–3
The Laval Rocket scored twice early in the third period to break a 3–3 tie and defeat the Calgary Wranglers at Scotiabank Saddledome.
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.
Wranglers Shut Out in 1–0 Overtime Loss
Zayne Parekh made his AHL debut and Arsenii Sergeev turned aside 30 shots, but the Calgary Wranglers fell 1–0 in overtime to the Bakersfield Condors on Sunday.
CALGARY — The Calgary Wranglers were edged 1–0 in overtime by the Bakersfield Condors on Sunday, dropping the second game of the back-to-back series.
Calgary outshot Bakersfield 33–31 but could not convert, as the game remained scoreless through regulation before the Condors ended it in overtime.
Defenseman Zayne Parekh made his American Hockey League debut for the Wranglers, finishing with two shots on goal. Calgary controlled large stretches of play but was unable to generate a goal despite consistent pressure.
Goaltender Arsenii Sergeev started for the Wranglers and stopped 30 of 31 shots, keeping the game tied through 60 minutes and overtime until the deciding goal.
The Wranglers will return to action next weekend with a two-game home series against the Laval Rocket at Scotiabank Saddledome. The teams meet Saturday, January 24 at 12:00 pm MT, followed by a second game on Monday night.
Condors pull away in second period to defeat Wranglers 5–1
Bakersfield turned a one-goal game into a decisive result with three second-period goals, pulling away from Calgary in the opening matchup of the weekend series at the Saddledome.
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.