Zary Scores in Season Debut as Wranglers Hold Off Condors for Third Straight Win
Photo by Angela Burger/Calgary Wranglers
CALGARY — Connor Zary needed less than half a game to make his mark in his season debut.
Zary scored in his season debut and Ben Jones added a power-play goal as the Wranglers extended their winning streak to three games with a 2-1 victory over the Bakersfield Condors on Friday night.
Arsenii Sergeev made 21 saves, several of them in a frantic final two minutes, as Calgary protected a third-period lead against a sustained Bakersfield push.
After a scoreless first period in which Calgary outshot Bakersfield 10-7, Zary opened the scoring at 10:34 of the second. The forward, playing his first game since being assigned by the Flames earlier this week, buried a one-timer from the slot off a feed from Dryden Hunt for his first goal of the season — his first AHL goal since Oct. 28, 2023.
Jones doubled the lead at 17:59, redirecting Hunter Brzustewicz's point shot for the team's first power-play goal of the season. Brzustewicz and William Strömgren picked up the assists, and Calgary carried a 2-0 lead into the third.
Bakersfield cut the deficit at 5:11 of the final frame when Quinn Hutson finished off a setup from Viljami Marjala and Aku Räty, and the Condors spent much of the period pressing for the equalizer.
The visitors' best chance came in the final two minutes, hemming Calgary in its own zone for an extended stretch. Sergeev answered with a sharp right-pad save through traffic and several more stops, while Tyson Gross, Jake Livingstone and company battled along the boards and cleared pucks to run out the clock.
Calgary's penalty kill was perfect on the night, holding Bakersfield scoreless on three power-play opportunities while the Wranglers converted one of their own three chances. The Wranglers outshot the Condors 26-22.
The three stars told the story: Zary for the opening goal, Jones for the eventual winner, and Sergeev for holding the line late.
The Wranglers get an immediate rematch Sunday when Bakersfield visits Scotiabank Saddledome for a 1 p.m. puck drop.
This recap is brought to you in part by Animas Painting — interior and exterior painting in Calgary. Reach Rafael at 403-604-5529.