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.
Wranglers Storm Back, Seize Third-Period Lead, Settle for Point in 4-3 Shootout Loss to Abbotsford
After Carter King put Calgary ahead early in the third, Abbotsford pushed back hard. The Canucks controlled much of the final period, outshooting the Wranglers 11-5 and eventually tying the game when Nils Åman found the net just past the midway point of the frame, sending a tight game toward overtime.
CALGARY — The Calgary Wranglers clawed their way back from an early two goal hole, took the lead in the third period, and still walked out of Abbotsford with just a single point Saturday night as the Canucks prevailed 4-3 in a five round shootout at Rogers Forum.
The Wranglers showed real push after Abbotsford struck twice early, with Jonathan Lekkerimäki opening the scoring just 18 seconds into the game before Cooper Walker made it 2-0 at 3:27 of the second period. Calgary responded shortly thereafter.
Sam Morton got the Wranglers on the board at 4:52 of the second, finishing a setup from Matvei Gridin and Dryden Hunt for his fifth of the season. Less than three minutes later, Hunt tied the game himself, putting home his 10th to erase the deficit and shift the momentum.
Carter King gave the Wranglers their first lead at 5:31, converting on a sequence with David Silye and Nick Cicek picking up the assists.
Abbotsford would not go away. Nils Åman answered back at 11:13, knotting the game at three, with Lekkerimäki and Jett Woo earning helpers. That goal forced overtime and eventually a shootout after neither side could break through in the extra frame.
Aydar Suniev was the lone Calgary skater to score in the shootout, but Abbotsford found enough offense over five rounds to secure the extra point.
The Wranglers also had to battle adversity in net. Owen Say started the game and stopped seven of nine shots before leaving early with an injury. Arsenii Sergeev was sharp in relief, turning aside 16 of 17 (.941) shots the rest of the way and giving Calgary a chance to win.
Dryden Hunt led the Wranglers with a goal and an assist and was named the game’s third star. Lekkerimäki and Åman earned the top two stars for Abbotsford, each finishing with a goal and an assist.
Calgary now turns the page quickly with a rematch Sunday afternoon at Rogers Forum, puck drop set for 4:00 pm MT, as the Wranglers look to convert a strong road performance into a full two points.
Wranglers edge Reign 3–2 behind Suniev’s winner and Prosvetov’s strong night at the Dome
Calgary edged Ontario 3–2 at the Saddledome, powered by Adar Suniev’s third-period winner, a shorthanded finish from Clark Bishop, and a steady 22-save performance from Ivan Prosvetov. The Wranglers now head into a three-week, 10-game road trip before returning home December 9.
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
Clark Bishop, CGY
Adar Suniev, CGY
Ivan Prosvetov, CGY