Wranglers Drop Second Straight For First Time In A Month

On Friday night, the Calgary Wranglers began their weekend series with the Colorado Eagles, dropping the opening contest 5-2.

After dropping their last game against the Manitoba Moose on Sunday (3-2), the Wranglers have lost back-to-back games for the first time since mid-December, when they lost three in a row.

The Wranglers had a busy week between losses; leading scorer Rory Kerins and top goalie Devin Cooley were selected for the AHL All-Star Classic.

Then, Kerins received his first call-up to the Flames, practicing with the team on Friday, and may have a chance to play in his first NHL game on Saturday night.

Without an All-Star producing at a point-per-game average, Calgary stumbled in the first game without their offensive leader.

Dryden Hunt opened the scoring at 3:49 of the first period, burying his eighth of the year with an assist from Jarred Tinordi. The shorthanded goal put the visitors up 1-0, their only lead of the night.

The Eagles got goals from Matthew Phillips (5:09) and Mark Senden (8:12), carrying their one-goal lead into the first intermission.

However, they didn't hold back in the second, getting two more goals from Jayson Megna (2:42) and Jason Polin (5:20) to have a comfortable 4-1 lead just 25 minutes into the game.

The Wranglers were shorthanded again to start the third period when captain Clark Bishop cut the Eagles' lead in half with a goal just 40 seconds into the period.

Finally, with the Calgary net empty, Devante Stephens tallied an empty net goal to secure a 5-3, handing the Wranglers their second loss of 2025.

Oddly, only three players collected points for the Wranglers, and Cooley had an off night in the crease, giving up four goals in 39:54, making a season-low 12 saves in a start.

In relief, Waltteri Ignatjew made six saves in 18:38 and could be the starter for Saturday night's rematch.

Although the loss didn't hurt the Wranglers in the Pacific Division, the Rochester Americans, who defeated Utica earlier in the evening, now have 47 points to tie Calgary atop the AHL standings.