The Calgary Wranglers hit Bakersfield for their third game in as many days, and they do it against a Condors team that’s had the luxury of waiting since last weekend’s series in Calgary. Calgary, meanwhile, is coming in on a back-to-back after a 5-4 loss to the San Jose Barracuda on Friday night.
The wrinkle here is obvious: freshness versus fatigue, with the Condors opening at home and the Wranglers trying to turn around quickly after a tight loss the night before. Bakersfield’s building should have plenty of energy, too, since this is the home opener and its games are usually well attended.
Last time these teams met in Calgary, they split the series, and Bakersfield handed the Wranglers their first loss of the season with that 5-4 win on Sun., Oct. 11.
Both games were decided by a single goal, and in that first defeat, there were likely a few goals Zarubin would’ve liked to have back. With Arsenii Sergeev having started both games this week already, and with Calgary playing last night, the setup points to another chance for Zarubin against a team that has already found a way to score on him.
The biggest matchup for Calgary is clear: Quinn Hutson. Bakersfield’s top scorer has five goals and an assist in four games, and he’s scored in every game this season. In the previous series against the Wranglers, Hutson had three goals and consistently looked to the low glove side, so that spot is bound to be on everyone’s radar again.
For Calgary, Ben Jones is the name to watch. He’s been on fire to start the season, piling up eight points in six games and carrying an active four-game goal streak into Bakersfield.
He’s scored six goals in his last four outings, including a two-goal performance in San Jose on Friday. Jones also lit up the Condors with three goals in the last two meetings between the clubs.
The lineups from last game were:
Calgary
Connor Zary - Ben Jones - Alex Nylander
Dryden Hunt - Rory Kerins - Luke Philp
Sam Morton - Tyson Gross - William Stromgren
Alex Gallant - Carter Wilkie - Andrew Basha
Jake Livingstone - Hunter Brzustewicz
Axel Hurtig - Brayden Pachal
Abram Wiebe - Mike Benning
Arsenii Sergeev
Bakersfield
Aku Raty - Viljami Marjala - Quinn Hutson
Rhett Pitlick - Tucker Robertson - Seth Griffith
Edwards Tralmaks - Simon Tassy - Daniel D’Amato
Connor Clattenburg - William Nicholl - Ethan Keppen
Damien Carfagna - Tomas Cibulka
Riley Stillman - Josh Brown
Samuel Sjolund - Zach Bookman
Connor Ungar
Matt Tomkins
The scoring leaders coming in are just as eye-catching. Calgary’s Ben Jones leads the way with 6GP, 6G, 2A.
Alex Nylander has 6GP, 1G, 5A, and William Stromgren also sits at 6GP, 1G, 5A. For Bakersfield, Quinn Hutson has 4GP, 5G, 1A, Aku Raty has 4GP, 2G, 2A, and Daniel D’Amato has 4GP, 2G, 1A.
Puck drop is set for 8:10 p.m. MT.
The game will stream on AHLtv on Flo Hockey, with radio coverage on Wranglers Radio through the team’s website and social media platforms. Daily Faceoff Calgary contributors Ryan Pike and I will have updates on X (formerly Twitter).
In Other News...
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Practice this week offered a glimpse at how the coaching staff is trying to steady things, with changes across both the blue line and the forward groups as the team searches for better balance and cleaner results. Those tweaks have become necessary on a roster that has not found its rhythm, and the next question is whether the new combinations can hold long enough to give Calgary a chance to climb out of the hole. [Read more 🡒]
Wranglers Waste Another Big Offensive Night In One-Goal Loss
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For a team trying to stack better results together, the frustration was familiar: another strong scoring night without the finish to match. There was also a lineup note worth watching, with Will Dineen listed day-to-day because of a lower-body injury, adding a little more uncertainty to a group that is already trying to find a way to turn competitive games into points. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Practice Revealed A New Twist Fans Will Notice Sunday
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One of the more noticeable details belonged to Dustin Wolf, who skated in fresh gear designed as a tribute to Miikka Kiprusoffs 2004 playoff setup. It fit the night well, with the Flames leaning into a nod to one of the franchises more familiar looks while sorting through their latest lineup choices. For a team trying to settle things down after the trip, the practice suggested Sunday could bring at least one twist worth watching before puck drop. [Read more 🡒]