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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wranglers Beat Firebirds 5-4 in OT as Kerins, Frk, and Gridin Lead Calgary on the Road

CALGARY — The Calgary Wranglers continued to show their resilience on the road, picking up a 5-4 overtime win against the Coachella Valley Firebirds on Sunday afternoon. It was a game full of swings, momentum shifts, and high-end skill, and Calgary’s top players stepped up when it mattered most.

Coachella Valley opened the scoring just 40 seconds into the game, but the Wranglers answered quickly. Rory Kerins tied it, and Nick Cicek followed with another shortly after to give Calgary its first lead. The Firebirds managed to even the score in the final seconds of the first period, setting up a back-and-forth afternoon.

The second period followed the same pattern. Coachella regained the lead on the powerplay, but Martin Frk responded with a powerplay marker of his own. That goal moved Frk into second place in AHL goal scoring and first in league points, with teammate Matvei Gridin sitting third. Both players continued their red-hot offensive pace.

Gridin put Calgary ahead early in the third, but Coachella tied it again with 10 minutes left. The game headed to overtime, where Kerins delivered the winner, burying his second goal of the day to secure the extra point. Kerins finished with two goals and one assist, while Frk and Gridin each put up three-point nights of their own.

Rookie goaltender Owen Say held strong throughout the high-event game, stopping 31 of 35 shots for a .886 save percentage. It was another composed outing from the young netminder, who continues to give Calgary steady play during this long road stretch.

With the win, the Wranglers move to the halfway point of their 10-game road stand. Calgary now shifts its focus to Wednesday, November 26, when the team visits the San Jose Barracuda at Tech CU Arena. Puck drop is at 8:00 pm MT, and fans can catch the action live on AHLTV via FloHockey.

Calgary’s road-heavy November continues with key Pacific Division matchups ahead, and with Kerins, Frk, Gridin, and Say leading the charge, the Wranglers are building solid momentum as the season approaches December.

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.