Wranglers Struggle in San Jose as Defensive Depth Gets Tested in 7-2 Loss
It was a tale of two Calgary teams on Saturday. While the Flames edged out a tight 3-2 win over the Sharks at the Saddledome, the Wranglers’ night in San Jose took a much different turn - one that exposed just how thin their blue line has become. Missing key pieces on the back end, Calgary’s AHL affiliate couldn’t contain the Barracuda’s attack, falling 7-2 in a game that quickly slipped out of reach.
Missing Pieces on the Blue Line
The Wranglers came into this one already shorthanded. Zayne Parekh, who had been a bright spot on the Wranglers' blue line this season, was officially recalled to the Flames earlier in the day - a move that was expected but still left a big hole in Calgary’s defensive corps. Add to that the absence of Nick Cicek, who is day-to-day after taking a blocked shot in Friday’s game, and Xavier Bernard, also out with a lower-body injury, and suddenly the Wranglers were down to the bare bones on defense.
Cicek gave it a go during the morning skate but couldn’t push through the discomfort. With Owen Say also sidelined month-to-month, the Wranglers had no choice but to roll with what they had left. That meant a patched-together blue line and some creative lineup juggling, including a five-forward unit on the power play - and, at times, even at even strength.
The only other lineup tweak saw Alex Gallant draw in, while Carter Wilkie sat out.
Lines and Pairings
Forwards:
- Rory Kerins - Sam Morton - Dryden Hunt
- William Stromgren - Clark Bishop - Martin Frk
- Lucas Ciona - Carter King - Aydar Suniev
- Parker Bell - David Silye - Alex Gallant
Defense:
- Artem Grushnikov - Damiil Miromanov
- Turner Ottenbreit - Jeremie Poirier
- Etienne Morin - Simon Mack
Goaltenders:
- Ivan Prosvetov (starter)
- Arsenii Sergeev
A Fast Start, Then a Fast Fade
The night got off to a promising enough start. Sam Morton created a dangerous breakaway chance in the opening minute, only to be denied by a strong backcheck. But San Jose made the most of their first shot, as Braden Haché beat Prosvetov glove side to open the scoring.
Morton didn’t wait long to respond. Just over a minute later, he pounced on a loose puck in front of the Barracuda net and buried the unassisted equalizer - his first of two on the night. It was the kind of bounce-back moment you want to see from a team trying to stay in the fight, and for a few minutes, the Wranglers looked ready to go toe-to-toe.
They even earned the first power play of the game, deploying a five-forward unit featuring Morton, Martin Frk, Rory Kerins, William Stromgren, and Dryden Hunt. The unit had a few decent looks, but couldn’t capitalize - a missed opportunity that loomed larger as the game went on.
By the end of the first, the score was tied 1-1, with San Jose holding a slight edge in shots (10-9). But the second period would tell a very different story.
Barracuda Take Over in the Second
San Jose wasted no time reclaiming momentum, as Oliver Wahlstrom sniped a top-corner goal just 31 seconds into the second. Calgary’s penalty kill held strong after an Alex Gallant interference call, but the Barracuda kept pressing.
Mattias Hävelid extended the lead at 8:54 with a one-timer, and less than two minutes later, Anthony Vincent added another. That third goal chased Prosvetov from the net, with Arsenii Sergeev stepping in for the rest of the night.
Once again, Morton tried to spark a response. Just 32 seconds after San Jose’s third goal, he won a faceoff, got the puck back from Kerins behind the net, and buried his second of the game - a much-needed jolt for Calgary.
Parker Bell tried to inject some energy of his own, leveling Luca Cagnoni with a hit and dropping the gloves with Nolan Allan in a spirited scrap. That fire seemed to help steady the Wranglers, who managed to keep the period relatively even from there. The second frame ended with San Jose up 4-2 and shots tied at 7 apiece.
Third Period Collapse
Whatever momentum Calgary had clawed back evaporated early in the third. Egor Afanasyev made it 5-2 less than two minutes in, lifting a backhander over Sergeev. Then Cam Lund slipped behind the defense for a breakaway goal just two minutes later, stretching the lead to 6-2 and all but sealing the Wranglers’ fate.
Desperate for answers, the Wranglers even deployed their five-forward unit at even strength, with Stromgren and Frk doubling as make-shift defensemen. It was a bold move, but one that underscored just how depleted the blue line had become.
San Jose kept pressing. Calgary gave up two more breakaways midway through the period - one broken up by Sergeev’s stick, the other shot wide.
But the Barracuda weren’t done. Filip Bystedt added a seventh goal at 14:13, capping a night of relentless pressure.
Tempers flared late, with Alex Gallant ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct and roughing at 16:29. Frk served the penalty, and shortly after it expired, Clark Bishop was called for high-sticking. By then, the game was well out of reach.
Final Takeaways
This was a tough one for the Wranglers. Missing three key defensemen, Calgary simply didn’t have the depth to keep up with San Jose’s speed and puck movement. The 7-2 final was a reflection of that - not a lack of effort, but a roster stretched too thin.
Sam Morton was a bright spot, scoring both Wranglers goals and earning second star honors. Rory Kerins added an assist, and the team showed flashes of fight, especially in the second period. But the defensive gaps were too big to overcome.
Shots finished 28-24 in favor of the Barracuda, and Calgary now falls below .500 on the season.
What’s Next
The Wranglers will look to regroup quickly as they wrap up their road trip Tuesday night against the Bakersfield Condors. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. MT.
They’ll be hoping for some good news on the injury front - and maybe a little more stability on the back end - as they try to snap this two-game slide.