Wranglers rally past Pacific-leading Eagles 3-2 in OT, move within four of division lead
The Calgary Wranglers erased a two-goal deficit and defeated the Pacific-leading Colorado Eagles 3–2 in overtime, moving within four points of the division lead.
CALGARY – The Calgary Wranglers opened the new year by rallying for a 3–2 overtime win over the Colorado Eagles at the Saddledome, erasing a two-goal first-period deficit to pick up two points against the Pacific Division leaders.
Colorado jumped out early, scoring twice in the opening period. Nikita Prishchepov opened the scoring at 13:20, followed by Tye Felhaber’s goal at 15:19 to give the Eagles a 2–0 lead.
Calgary responded late in the first period on the power play. William Strömgren got the Wranglers on the board at 17:04, finishing a setup from Dryden Hunt and Rory Kerins to cut the deficit in half.
The Wranglers tied the game early in the second period, again with the man advantage. Martin Frk scored at 7:16, converting a setup from Hunt and Strömgren to make it 2–2. That goal forced overtime, as neither team was able to break through during a scoreless third period.
Calgary carried play as the game went on, outshooting Colorado 33–25 overall and holding a 16–6 edge in shots after the first period. The Wranglers finished 3-for-6 on the power play, while Colorado went 0-for-4.
In goal, Owen Say made 23 saves on 25 shots for Calgary, finishing with a .920 save percentage. At the other end, Isak Posch stopped 30 of 33 shots for Colorado.
The game was decided 1:16 into overtime when Dryden Hunt scored his first game-winning goal of the season on the power play, finishing a play set up by Martin Frk and Rory Kerins.
Hunt finished with a goal and two assists. Strömgren recorded a goal and an assist, giving him eight points in his last three games. Rory Kerins added two assists, extending his point streak to 10 games.
The victory was Calgary’s 15th of the season and moved the Wranglers to 38 points, four points back of Colorado for the Pacific Division lead. The Eagles sit at 42 points and hold six games in hand. The Wranglers return to action Friday with a 7:00 pm MT matchup against the Tucson Roadrunners at the Saddledome, followed by another meeting with Tucson on Sunday afternoon. Calgary then heads to Abbotsford for a two-game road set on January 10 and January 11.
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.