Calgary Wranglers Recap: Ilya Solovyov grounds Eagles in 2-1 overtime win
1 year ago
The Calgary Wranglers kicked off their second series of the week against the Colorado Eagles on Friday night. This was the Eagles’ first trip up to the Scotiabank Saddledome and only their third game against each other all season. It was a pretty even battle for the majority of the game but it would be the Wranglers who would strike when it mattered most and defeat the Eagles 2-1 in overtime.
Game at a glance
This match-up was quite the goaltending battle that didn’t result in any goals until the third period. That didn’t make the game any less interesting but it did take the Wranglers some time to get up to their normal pace and style of play they’ve been most successful with this season.
The first period had solid efforts on both sides of the ice for the skaters and goaltenders. Both were getting their fair share of scoring chances but neither was able to make it past the other’s netminders. The game was scoreless through 20 minutes and the Wranglers out-shot the Eagles 15-12.
In the second period, the Eagles got one of their best chances to open up the scoring when they got on a shorthanded breakaway and Ben Jones interfered with the shooter. He went one-on-one with Wolf for the penalty shot and Wolf stopped him with ease.
The second would finish the same way it started with a scoreless frame and the Wranglers outshooting the Eagles 14-8.
The third is where things got interesting. 6:37 into the period, the Eagles lit the lamp with a power play goal and forced the Wranglers into comeback mode. They made their efforts but it was getting dangerously close to the end of the game before their luck turned their way.
The Eagles were called on two penalties later in the game and ended up with a 5-on-3 for the Wranglers in the last four minutes of regulation. Matthew Phillips perfectly positioned himself to bury a rebound and tied things up with a power play goal 16:13 into the third. Jeremie Poirier and Connor Zary assisted.
The Wranglers were lucky to net this one as they only had three shots in the entire third period. Colorado put up 12. This game would go to overtime where about halfway through, Ilya Solovyov scored the game-winner. This was Solovyov’s first goal of the season after an incredible effort on the blue line. He’s more than earned his spot on the top defensive pairing and Friday’s game further solidified that.
Solovyov has been dialled in, playing solid hockey and Friday’s game was arguably his best of the season. His teammates were thrilled to see his effort translate into the game-winner against Colorado and they all swarmed him at the end of the game. Radim Zohorna assisted as well as Connor Zary, who picked up his second assist on the night.
The Wranglers took this game out of regulation but still came from behind to defeat the Eagles 2-1 in overtime. Dustin Wolf got his 29th win of the season between the pipes and shots finished up 34-32 favouring Calgary.
Highlights
Failed to load video.
Next up
The busy week for the Wranglers isn’t quite over yet but they will have a day break between games before they’re back in action on Sunday evening. The Eagles will stick around to complete their series and either even things up again or face a sweep by the home team. Sunday’s game time is later than usual with a 6:00 p.m. MT puck drop at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Recent articles from Paige Siewert
