The Calgary Wranglers got exactly what they needed in Henderson on Thursday: a timely scoring touch from Luke Philp and a steady finish from Owen Say.
Philp scored twice, Ben Jones delivered the go-ahead goal late in the third period, and Say turned aside 30 shots as the Wranglers edged the Silver Knights 3-2 in the fourth game of their five-game road trip. Calgary led twice, saw Henderson answer both times, then finally broke through for good with Jones’ deflection at 10:41 of the third.
The night also featured a few lineup wrinkles. Sam Honzek, who was assigned to the Wranglers on Wednesday, did not make his season debut. Owen Say made his second straight start after beating the Condors on Tuesday, while Calgary dressed Tyson Feist as an extra defender and leaned on some forwards to double shift on the fourth line, including Dryden Hunt, Rory Kerins and Jones.
Say was tested early, especially with Henderson generating the heavier share of the dangerous looks. Calgary had to kill off an early Hunter Brzustewicz tripping penalty at 3:41, then got its own power play at 7:29 when Tyson Gross was tripped. Andrew Basha came closest on that chance, ringing a shot off the post, but the Wranglers couldn’t cash in.
They did strike first at 15:16. Basha fired, Philp found the rebound in the right spot, and the puck was in the net before Carl Lindbom could reset. Kerins picked up the assist on the opening goal.
Henderson answered before the period ended, getting a goal from Lukas Cormier to pull even. After 20 minutes, the game was tied 1-1, and the Silver Knights held a 13-4 edge in shots.
Calgary opened the second with a power play just 32 seconds in, but the opportunity produced only one shot. The Wranglers had a few more looks as the period wore on, including a near miss from Dryden Hunt around the eight-minute mark when he had room near the crease.
The middle frame also brought more penalty-killing work. Axel Hurtig was whistled for holding the stick at 11:34, and Sam Morton nearly turned that kill into a short-handed goal with a breakaway backhand that was stopped. Henderson then hit the post at the other end.
Philp came through again at 15:26. Once more, the rebound fell his way, and he finished to put Calgary back in front. This time the assists were flipped from the first goal, with Kerins getting the primary and Basha the secondary.
The Wranglers survived another tense sequence late in the period when Henderson’s goalie went off for a delayed penalty at 17:40, then Tyson Feist was sent off for slashing at 17:55. Calgary killed it off and carried a 2-1 lead into the third, even though Henderson had pushed the shot count to 19-13.
The final period turned into a grind. Will Dineen answered for a hit along the boards at 3:56, and a few minutes later Calgary was back on the penalty kill when Basha was called for boarding at 4:52. Henderson didn’t get a shot on that advantage, but it did not take long for the equalizer to arrive after that.
At 9:15, Matyas Sapovliv wrapped one around and slipped the puck past Say to tie the game 2-2.
Calgary responded quickly. About a minute and a half later, the Wranglers worked the puck into the offensive zone, Hunt got a shot through, and Jones got just enough on the deflection to put Calgary back on top at 10:41.
From there, Say took over. Henderson pressed hard, called timeout with 2:57 left, and pulled Lindbom, but the Wranglers’ goalie shut the door the rest of the way. Say finished with 30 saves, and Calgary left with a 3-2 win despite being outshot 32-17.
Philp earned the first star for his two-goal night, while Jones was the third star for the winner. Kerins finished with two assists, Basha had two assists as well, and Hunt added one assist.
The two teams will meet again Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. ABT.
In Other News...
Sharangovich Is Becoming A Real Flames Roster Problem
The Flames have spent the early part of the 2026-27 season outperforming expectations, and a big reason is the way a wave of younger and newer contributors has helped drive the club to an 8-10-1 start. Joel Farabee, Matt Coronato, Matvei Gridin, Adam Klapka, Kevin Bahl, Zayne Parekh and Devin Cooley have all given Calgary useful minutes and, in some cases, real lift, which has softened the impact of uneven play from a few established names.
Yegor Sharangovich is the most uncomfortable case in that group. After signing a five-year contract off the back of a strong first season in Calgary, he has struggled badly enough that his spot is no longer secure, especially with Jonathan Huberdeau and Sam Honzek working their way back into the lineup. For a team that has found enough unexpected production to stay afloat, the question is no longer whether the Flames can survive his slump, but how long they can justify keeping him in the everyday mix. [Read more 🡒]
Ducks Coaching Situation Suddenly Feels Like A Bigger Story
The coaching picture in Anaheim is starting to settle, and that matters around the rest of the Pacific. Pierre LeBrun reported the Ducks and Joel Quenneville have been in contract talks, with an extension expected within the next month or two, which suggests one of the divisions more closely watched benches may not be changing anytime soon.
For the Flames, the ripple effect is more indirect but still worth tracking as they sort through life after Kevin Bahls season-ending injury. Management appears more inclined to open up opportunities for younger defensemen than to chase a major veteran fix, and with the trade deadline drawing closer, the conversation around possible roster moves and trade targets is only going to get louder. [Read more 🡒]
Craig Conroy Thinks The Flames Can Change A Brutal Narrative
Craig Conroy knows the pitch is not always simple when the Flames go looking for help. In discussing the obstacles Canadian teams face in recruiting players, the Calgary GM acknowledged that some players and agents still hesitate at the idea of moving north, with Calgary sometimes singled out in that conversation. Even so, he pointed to the trade for defenseman Jacob Middleton as proof that the door is not closed, and that the right fit can still outweigh the old assumptions.
Middleton, for his part, offered a reminder that those assumptions do not tell the whole story. He said his Canadian roots and family mattered in his decision, along with the direction he sees from the organization. For Conroy, that kind of buy-in matters beyond one transaction, because it speaks to the larger challenge of changing a narrative that has long made life harder for Canadian clubs when they try to bring players in. [Read more 🡒]