Wranglers Fall to Condors 5-1 as Martin Pospisil Returns to Action
The Calgary Wranglers opened their weekend set against the Bakersfield Condors on Friday night, but despite getting a familiar face back in the lineup, they couldn’t find their rhythm in a 5-1 loss. Flames center Martin Pospisil suited up for his first game action since October 1, joining the Wranglers on a conditioning loan. While his return added some much-needed depth to a depleted roster, it wasn’t enough to slow down a sharp Bakersfield squad.
A Thin Lineup Gets Thinner
The Wranglers came into this one already short-handed, and the lineup sheet reflected that. Goaltender Owen Say remains out month-to-month with a lower-body injury, while Ivan Prosvetov is listed day-to-day with a similar issue. On the blue line, Artem Grushnikov missed the game due to illness, and Etienne Morin was unavailable for personal reasons.
One notable absence that raised eyebrows was forward Matvei Gridin. He didn’t dress, skate in warmups, or appear on the injury report. That kind of unexplained scratch often hints at a roster move in the works between the Wranglers and their NHL affiliate.
Line Combinations and Defensive Pairings
Here’s how the Wranglers rolled out their lines:
Forwards:
- Clark Bishop - Sam Morton - Martin Frk
- Rory Kerins - Martin Pospisil - Aydar Suniev
- Carter King - David Silye - Parker Bell
- Alex Gallant - Carter Wilkie - Lucas Ciona
Defense:
- Turner Ottenbreit - Daniil Miromanov
- Nick Cicek - Jeremie Poirier
- Xavier Bernard - Simon Mack
Goaltenders:
- Connor Murphy (starter)
- Arsenii Sergeev (backup)
Game Flow: Condors Capitalize, Wranglers Chase
With Connor Murphy between the pipes for Calgary and Connor Ungar starting for Bakersfield, the first period got off to a measured pace. But it didn’t take long for the Condors to pounce. At 7:25, Seth Griffith turned a neutral zone turnover into a breakaway goal, giving Bakersfield the early edge.
A power play opportunity followed after a hooking call on Nick Cicek, and the Condors made it count. Max Jones finished a slick backhand over Murphy’s pads at 12:34 to extend the lead to 2-0.
Calgary answered back with a power play goal of their own. After Carter King won a faceoff in the offensive zone, Aydar Suniev unleashed his signature shot just four seconds before the man advantage expired. That goal cut the deficit to 2-1 heading into the first intermission, with shots narrowly favoring Bakersfield, 8-7.
Second Period Spiral
The second period started with a chance for Calgary to equalize after a too-many-men penalty on the Condors, but the Wranglers couldn’t cash in. Then came a flurry of penalties, and the game started to unravel for Calgary.
At 9:09, James Hamblin tapped in a loose puck to restore Bakersfield’s two-goal cushion. Less than a minute later, Lucas Ciona and Viljami Marjala got tangled up in front of the benches and each took minors, with Ciona also earning an unsportsmanlike conduct that Martin Frk served.
That set off a chaotic stretch of special teams play. Calgary briefly had a 4-on-3 advantage, but instead of closing the gap, they gave up another breakaway - and Hamblin made them pay again, scoring his second of the period with a shorthanded goal.
The Condors weren’t done. A defensive-zone turnover by the Wranglers at 17:49 turned into another goal, this time from Roby Jarventie, pushing the score to 5-1.
Bakersfield took a high-sticking penalty late in the period, but Calgary couldn’t convert. Shots were close again in the second (11-10 Condors), but the scoreboard told a different story.
Third Period: Damage Control
Arsenii Sergeev took over in net to start the third, and Calgary began the frame on the power play. But any momentum was short-lived after Martin Frk was called for hooking at 1:27. The Condors eased off the gas in the final 20 minutes, and while Calgary managed a game-high 13 shots in the third, they couldn’t solve Ungar again.
When the final horn sounded, the Wranglers had been outscored and outplayed, falling 5-1 on home ice.
Pospisil’s Return: A Work in Progress
Martin Pospisil finished with a -2 rating, three shots, and two penalty minutes in his return to AHL action. After the game, he spoke about getting back into game shape and reconnecting with the Wranglers.
“Feels a little weird but at the same time it’s nice to see some friendly faces and they have some really good players,” Pospisil said. “I just need some situations to figure it out and I think we still had some good chances to score. We just need to be a little bit stronger at the puck and just make a play, then we score.”
It’s clear that while he’s still shaking off the rust, his presence brings some veteran savvy and energy to a group that’s been hit hard by injuries and absences.
Scoring Summary
- Aydar Suniev - 1 goal
- Carter King - 1 assist
What’s Next
The Wranglers will regroup with a Saturday practice before wrapping up the weekend series with a Sunday matinee rematch against the Condors. Puck drop is set for 1:00 p.m.
MT. Calgary will be looking to tighten things up defensively and capitalize on their chances if they hope to split the series and get back in the win column.