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.
Wranglers Drop 4–1 Decision to Barracuda on Hockey Fights Cancer Night at the Saddledome
The Calgary Wranglers dropped a 4–1 decision to the San Jose Barracuda on Hockey Fights Cancer night. Egor Afanasyev and Kasper Halttunen led the way for San Jose, while Lucas Ciona scored Calgary’s lone goal. Gabriel Carriere turned aside 20 shots in net, frustrating the Wranglers' power play and sealing back-to-back wins at the Saddledome.
CALGARY — The Calgary Wranglers fell 4–1 to the San Jose Barracuda Saturday afternoon at the Scotiabank Saddledome, as San Jose completed the two-game sweep in front of a strong crowd for the team’s annual Hockey Fights Cancer game.
The Barracuda struck first at the 8:00 mark of the opening period, when Egor Afanasyev (#11) cut in over the blue line and snapped a low shot far side past Ivan Prosvetov. The goal was the first of the season for the 6'4" left winger from Tver, Russia, who was drafted 45th overall by the Nashville Predators in 2019 and traded to San Jose earlier this year.
San Jose added to their lead after Calgary forward Rory Kerins was called for interference. On the power play, Pavol Regenda (#84) sent a puck into traffic that eventually found Kasper Halttunen (#14), who buried it to make it 2–0. Just minutes later, Halttunen scored again — this time on a clean shot from the left circle for his second of the game and third of the season. The Helsinki-born forward was a second-round pick (36th overall) in 2023 and is currently in the final year of his three-year entry-level contract.
Calgary’s best chance of the first came in the dying seconds, when a Wranglers forward broke in alone, but goaltender Gabriel Carriere stood tall. San Jose outshot Calgary 11–5 in the first.
Tempers flared late in the period as Alex Gallant and Anthony Vincent dropped the gloves, although the fight didn’t escalate beyond a quick exchange. Jimmy Huntington, who had earlier laid a heavy hit on Hunter Brzustewicz, was involved in a scrap of his own later in the second with Calgary’s Nick Cicek — possibly in response to that earlier collision.
Calgary found some life late in the second. After several chances turned away by Carriere, the Wranglers finally broke through with 2:17 left in the period. Aydar Suniev’s shot from the right dot deflected off Sam Morton and then off Lucas Ciona (#17), who redirected it in for his first goal of the season. That cut the deficit to 3–1 heading into the third.
The Wranglers had two power play opportunities in the game but were unable to convert, falling to 6-for-40 on the season (15.0%). San Jose went 1-for-2, improving their power play efficiency to 13-for-50 (26%).
In the third, Calgary pushed hard. Parker Bell had multiple rushes, Matvei Gridin had several looks, and Brzustewicz nearly scored on a wraparound. Carriere was sharp throughout, including a glove save on Regenda shorthanded and a key stop on Brzustewicz walking in from the point.
With time running down, Calgary pulled Prosvetov for the extra attacker, but Colin White sealed the game with an empty net goal — his second goal of the year — making it 4–1 San Jose.
After the game, Barracuda GM Joe Will praised his forward depth, saying several players could contribute at the NHL level this season. He also noted confidence in both of San Jose’s AHL goalies — Carriere and Škarek — to step in and help the big club if needed.