The Calgary Wranglers didn’t get the pre-season finish they wanted, but Alex Young at least gave them a moment to build on.
In their final tune-up before the games count, the Wranglers dropped a 3-1 decision to the Abbotsford Canucks after Young scored Calgary’s only goal in the second period. It was a more pared-down lineup than the one Calgary used in Sunday’s shutout loss, with several depth players getting a longer look and a handful of regular names out of the mix.
Calgary’s lineup featured Alex Gallant, Sam Morton and Will Dineen wearing letters, while the roster also included Alex Young, Alexander Campbell, Ryan Hofer, Tyson Feist, Kent Anderson, Hunter Donohoe, Ryder Boulton and Quinn Olson. Out of the lineup were Alex Nylander, Rory Kerins, William Stromgren, Dryden Hunt, Ben Jones, Hunter Brzustewicz, Mike Benning and Jake Livingstone.
Kirill Zarubin got the start in goal for the Wranglers, with Arsenii Sergeev backing him up. Abbotsford countered with Aku Koskenvuo, then later turned to Mitchell Weeks.
The Canucks struck first on the game’s opening shot, as Vilmer Alriksson broke into the zone and beat Zarubin with a wrist shot. Calgary settled in after that, but Abbotsford added another before the period was out when Braeden Cootes slipped one short side at 10:22 to make it 2-0.
The Wranglers’ first penalty came 10 seconds later, when Abram Wiebe was called for cross-checking, but Calgary killed it off and the rest of the opening frame moved along with few whistles. Abbotsford carried a 2-0 lead into the intermission and held a 13-7 edge in shots.
The second period brought a little more life from Calgary, and the breakthrough finally came after the Canucks changed goaltenders. Weeks entered at 11:15, and just over a minute and a half later the Wranglers scored their first pre-season goal when Jonathan Castagna settled a puck from Kyle Walker and set up Young at 12:50.
That slice of momentum didn’t last long. Former Wrangler Gavin White answered for Abbotsford at 14:17 with a point shot to restore the two-goal cushion.
Calgary spent the end of the period on the defensive after Alex Gallant was penalized for holding the stick at 17:44, then Carter Wilkie was whistled for hooking at 18:07 to create a five-on-three. The Wranglers survived the sequence and took a seven-second carryover into the third, but they still trailed 3-1 after 40 minutes and were behind 19-17 in shots.
The third period gave Calgary its best chance to climb back. At 10:21, Anri Ravinskis was called for tripping and the Wranglers got their first power play of the night. Without Brzustewicz available, Abram Wiebe handled the point on the man advantage, and Will Dineen recorded the only shot on the opportunity.
Late in the period, Calgary used its timeout and pulled Zarubin for the extra attacker once they gained possession. The Wranglers pushed in the closing minutes, but Weeks held up and the score stayed put at 3-1.
Calgary finished with a 30-23 shot advantage, while former Wrangler Gavin White was named the first star and the Canucks took all three star selections.
Young finished with the lone Calgary goal, while Castagna and Walker picked up the assists.
Among the notable performances, Wiebe stood out on the back end with his physical play, his work running the power play and a few looks from the point, including a shot late. Axel Hurtig led Calgary with three shot attempts, and Morton was one of the more experienced skaters up front.
Carter Wilkie, Castagna and Tyson Gross also brought speed and created chances, with Wilkie particularly noticeable in a spot where he usually sits lower in the lineup. Young, for his part, could have had more than one and gave the group a needed jolt.
The Wranglers and Canucks now turn from exhibition play to the real thing, meeting again in Calgary’s home opener on Friday. It will be the Wranglers’ final season opener in the dome, with puck drop set for 7:00 p.m. MT.
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