25-02-2025
Déjà Vu: Wranglers Fall To Reign In Shootout, 2-1
The Calgary Wranglers (29-16-4-2) are no longer the top team in the AHL Pacific Division, as the Ontario Reign leapfrogged the Southern Alberta team thanks to a 2-1 shootout win on Sunday night.
The contest marked the third consecutive game the two teams went to extra time, as the Reign swept the Wranglers at the Saddledome on Feb. 15 (4-3) and Feb. 17. (3-2), both games going to overtime.
In another case of déjà vu, Calgary opened up the scoring for the ninth straight game when Hunter Brzustewicz scored at 15:59 of the first period. David Silye and Trevor Janicke set up his fourth of the year.
Unfortunately, the Wranglers are now 1-3-3-2 in their last nine games, meaning they have managed to secure a single victory after scoring the first goal, which came during a Jan. 31 contest against the Abbotsford Canucks.
BRRRRR it's cold in here 🥶 Up 1-0!!
— Calgary Wranglers (@AHLWranglers) February 24, 2025
On Sunday, the Reign tied the contest midway through the second period at 9:59 when Joe Hicketts tallied his third of the season, thanks to feeds from Jeff Malott and Charles Hudon.
It was the defining moment of the period for the home team, who managed 17 shots on Walterri Ignatjew, who was making his first appearance since a 7-5 victory over the San Diego Gulls on Jan. 25.
As the two teams battled through the third period and into overtime, the Wranglers outshot (14-9) and outhustled the Reign but were unable to solve Pheonix Copley, who finished his evening with 26 saves (.962 Sv%). In the shootout, he stopped both William Strömgren and Jeremie Poirier.
Although Ignatjew was brilliant through regulation with 37 saves (.973 Sv%), he didn't have answers for Glenn Gawdin and Malott, who scored in the first and second rounds of the shootout, giving Ontario another win over Calgary.
Interestingly, there were no penalties through 40 minutes, but each team had three power play opportunities in the third, with neither capitalizing on their chances.
Moreover, it was a quiet night for several of the Wranglers' top players, including Martin Frk and Rory Kerins, who had six shots on goal and saw their respective three-game point streaks end.
Despite picking up another point, these single-digit games have finally caught up to Calgary, who are no longer the top team in the Pacific Division. They play again on Tuesday night against the Gulls before returning home for four contests in the next week and a half.
