Perunovich Caps Wild Back-and-Forth Night With OT Power-Play Winner

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 — 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.

Tucson posts 5-2 win over Wranglers as Kerins ties franchise point streak record

CALGARY -- The Calgary Wranglers opened the scoring Friday night but ultimately fell 5-2 to the Tucson Roadrunners at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Rory Kerins gave Calgary an early lift, finishing a play set up by Dryden Hunt and William Stromgren. The goal extended Kerins’ point streak to 11 games, tying a Wranglers franchise record.

Lucas Ciona accounted for Calgary’s other goal, converting on a setup from Etienne Morin and Parker Bell as the Wranglers worked to stay within reach.

Tucson generated consistent offense throughout the game, finishing with a 43-20 edge in shots on goal. Owen Say faced heavy workload in net for Calgary, stopping 38 shots and posting a .884 save percentage.

Special teams played a role in the outcome, with Tucson going 2-for-6 on the power play while Calgary was held scoreless on four opportunities.

The Wranglers will have a chance to respond quickly as the two teams meet again Sunday afternoon. Puck drop is scheduled for 1:00 pm MT at the Scotiabank Saddledome.