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.
Tucson posts 5-2 win over Wranglers as Kerins ties franchise point streak record
Calgary got goals from Rory Kerins and Lucas Ciona, but Tucson pulled away as the Roadrunners earned a 5-2 win Friday night at Scotiabank Saddledome.
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.
Eagles edge Wranglers 6-5 in OT after Calgary scores four straight at Scotiabank Saddledome
The Calgary Wranglers scored four straight goals to seize control, but the Colorado Eagles rallied late and claimed a 6–5 overtime win at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
CALGARY — The Calgary Wranglers scored four straight goals to flip the game on its head, but the Pacific Division-leading Colorado Eagles answered late and escaped with a 6–5 overtime win Tuesday at Scotiabank Saddledome.
Colorado struck early, opening the scoring just 41 seconds into the contest when Jayson Megna buried his 14th of the season, assisted by Jack Ahcan and T.J. Tynan. The Eagles made it 2–0 at 7:54 of the first period as Matthew Stienburg finished his second of the year, set up by Nikita Prishchepov and Ahcan.
Calgary got on the board late in the opening frame. Parker Bell cut the deficit to 2–1 at 15:11, finishing a play created by Clark Bishop and Daniil Miromanov.
The Eagles extended the lead early in the second period when Tye Felhaber scored at 5:13. From there, the Wranglers took control.
William Strömgren ignited the push at 8:44, scoring his fourth of the season off feeds from Dryden Hunt and Rory Kerins. Just 25 seconds later, Hunt tied the game at 9:09, finishing a setup from Strömgren and Jeremie Poirier. Strömgren struck again at 11:43 to give Calgary the lead, converting a pass from Hunt and Sam Morton.
The Wranglers were not done. Rory Kerins made it four straight Calgary goals at 18:49 of the second period, scoring his 12th of the season with assists from Strömgren and Daniil Miromanov to give Calgary a 5–3 advantage heading into the third.
Colorado pushed back late. Ronnie Attard pulled the Eagles within one at 6:07 of the third period, assisted by Sean Behrens and Felhaber. Megna tied the game at 17:48 with his second of the afternoon and 15th of the season, set up by Alex Barré-Boulet and Ahcan.
The Eagles completed the comeback in overtime, with Ahcan ending it at 3:14 of the extra frame to seal the 6–5 victory.
The Wranglers entered the game looking for their 15th win of the season, sitting at 35 points through 33 games. Colorado earned its 20th win of the season, maintaining its hold atop the Pacific Division.
Gulls Defeat Wranglers 4–3 in Overtime at Scotiabank Saddledome
The San Diego Gulls defeated the Calgary Wranglers 4–3 in overtime Friday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome, closing the game on a late power-play goal. Tristan Luneau scored the winner at 4:32 of overtime, while Matthew Phillips recorded two goals against his former club.
CALGARY - The San Diego Gulls defeated the Calgary Wranglers 4–3 in overtime Friday night at Scotiabank Saddledome, winning on a power-play goal late in the extra period.
The game-winner came at 4:32 of overtime, when Tristan Luneau scored from the point, beating goaltender Owen Say blocker side. Matthew Phillips and Tim Washe recorded the assists on the deciding play.
Calgary opened the scoring at 6:16 of the first period. Andrew Basha set up Lucas Ciona in the high slot, and Ciona’s quick release beat Callie Clang high on the blocker side for his second goal of the season. Filip Cicek added the secondary assist.
San Diego tied the game at 11:03 of the first on the power play. Phillips, a former Wrangler and Calgary native, scored on a rebound just two seconds into the man advantage, with Justin Bailey and Washe picking up the assists.
The second period featured a rapid stretch of scoring, with three goals coming in a span of 1:05. Phillips scored his second of the night at 11:25 to give the Gulls a 2–1 lead. Calgary responded 30 seconds later when Parker Bell scored from close range at 11:55. Just 35 seconds after that, Rory Kerins put the Wranglers back in front at 12:30, finishing at the side of the net after a pass from Daniil Miromanov. Martin Frk also earned an assist on the play.
San Diego tied the game again in the third period. Jan Myšák scored on the power play at 10:04, with assists from Sasha Pastujov and Ryan Carpenter, evening the score at 3–3.
Say finished the night with 46 saves on 50 shots, helping Calgary extend the game to overtime despite San Diego holding a significant advantage in shot attempts.
Both teams had opportunities in the extra session before San Diego capitalized on a late power play to secure the win.