The Calgary Wranglers are hitting the road this weekend, heading to Bakersfield, CA, to take on the Edmonton Oilers affiliate, the Condors. Fresh off a thrilling shootout victory in Manitoba, the Wranglers are eager to keep the momentum going and rack up some crucial points against their Pacific Division rivals.
Recent Lineups
For Calgary, the lines have been dynamic:
- Carter King, Clark Bishop, and Justin Kirkland lead one line.
- William Stromgren, Rory Kerins, and Martin Frk form another potent trio.
- With Matvei Gridin inactive, Sam Morton and Aydar Suniev round out a line.
- Parker Bell, Carter Wilkie, and Lucas Ciona complete the forward lineup.
On defense, Nick Cicek pairs with Daniil Miromanov, Turner Ottenbreit with Hunter Brzustewicz, and Etienne Morin with Gavin White. Arsenii Sergeev holds the fort in goal.
Bakersfield’s lineup features:
- Isaac Howard, Viljami Marjala, and Quinn Hutson as a top line.
- Max Jones, James Hamblin, and Seth Griffith add depth.
- Sam Poulin, Daniel D’Amato, and Roby Jarventie form another line.
- Rhett Pitlick, Matthew Brown, and Matvey Petrov round out the forwards.
Defensively, Riley Stillman partners with Josh Brown, Damien Carfagna with Beau Akey, and Atro Leppanen with Luke Prokop. Matt Tomkins is expected in goal.
Key Players
Calgary's offensive charge is led by Martin Frk with 17 goals and 23 assists in 49 games. Dryden Hunt and Rory Kerins are also significant contributors, combining for impressive stats despite Hunt's recent injury concerns.
For Bakersfield, Seth Griffith is a standout with 14 goals and 32 assists in 49 games. Quinn Hutson and Viljami Marjala are also key figures in their attack.
Game Outlook
The Wranglers have welcomed Matvei Gridin back to the NHL after his stint with the AHL All-Star team, where he made an impact with a game-winning shootout goal against Manitoba. While no other roster changes are expected, Calgary might need to tap into their depth if Dryden Hunt and Alex Gallant remain sidelined with injuries.
Facing a tough Condors team sitting third in the division, the Wranglers have a 2-2-2-0 record against them this season. Their last encounter saw the Condors edge out a 4-3 win against the Coachella Valley Firebirds, showing they’re in fine form.
This road trip is brief, with Calgary set to face the San Jose Barracuda next. Friday’s game against the Condors kicks off at 8:00 p.m.
MT, available for streaming on Flo Hockey or via radio on Sportsnet 960 The Fan. Keep an eye on updates from FlamesNation contributors on social media for the latest insights.
This matchup promises to be another thrilling chapter in the Wranglers' season, as they aim to climb the standings and solidify their playoff aspirations.