Series Preview: Calgary Wranglers play Colorado Eagles for the first time since October
1 year ago
The Colorado Eagles are in town this weekend to face the Calgary Wranglers for just their second series against each other this season. Their last meeting was back in the second week of the season on October 21st and 22nd.
Their first series ended in a split with the first game ending in a 6-2 Eagles win and the next game ending in a 4-2 win for the Wranglers. We’ll see if one of these teams can take an edge in this series with a potential sweep this weekend.
One thing to note: Emilio Pettersen will not play for the Wranglers on Friday after being suspended one game by the league for his high cross-check on Tristan Nielsen late in Wednesday’s game against the Abbotsford Canucks.
Projected lineups
Calgary
Radim Zohorna – Ben Jones – Matthew Phillips
Mitch McLain – Cole Schwindt – Connor Zary
Brett Sutter – Kevin Rooney – Walker Duehr
Alex Gallant – Clark Bishop – Adam Klapka
Mitch McLain – Cole Schwindt – Connor Zary
Brett Sutter – Kevin Rooney – Walker Duehr
Alex Gallant – Clark Bishop – Adam Klapka
Ilya Solovyov – Nick DeSimone
Jeremie Poirier – Nicolas Meloche
Yan Kuznetsov – Colton Poolman
Jeremie Poirier – Nicolas Meloche
Yan Kuznetsov – Colton Poolman
Dustin Wolf
Daniil Chechelev
Daniil Chechelev
Colorado
Charles Hudon – Ben Meyers – Shane Bowers
Sampo Ranta – Callahan Burke – Alex Beaucage
Anton Blidh – Ryan Wager – Oskar Olausson
Cedric Pare – Justin Scott – Brandon Cutler
Sampo Ranta – Callahan Burke – Alex Beaucage
Anton Blidh – Ryan Wager – Oskar Olausson
Cedric Pare – Justin Scott – Brandon Cutler
Keaton Middleton – Nate Clurman
Wyatt Aamodt – Luke Martin
Mitchell Vande Sompel – Ryan Merkley
Wyatt Aamodt – Luke Martin
Mitchell Vande Sompel – Ryan Merkley
Justus Annunen
Trent Miner
Trent Miner
Leaders
Calgary
Matthew Phillips – 42GP, 25G, 26A
Connor Zary – 48GP, 14G, 29A
Ben Jones – 47GP, 11G, 29A
Colorado
Charles Hudon – 39GP, 17G, 16A
Jean-Luc Foudy – 36GP, 11G, 20A
Callahan Burke – 46GP, 12G, 13A
Notes and expectations
The Wranglers need a regroup in this series after their 4-2 loss to the Abbotsford Canucks back on Wednesday. It was a game they needed to give more in physically and emotionally. They only had Thursday to really reflect on it and switch gears for their new opponent. What better way to do that than with a team you don’t see much of?
Now one loss down a long stretch of games really doesn’t throw off the foundation the Wranglers have built for themselves this season. They are still first in the league going into this weekend and don’t make a habit out of their tougher games. A little adversity here and there can do them some good as they get closer to playoff time.
Dustin Wolf will start at least one if not both of his games and his track record after losses is exceptional. He has not lost two consecutive games between the pipes all season and despite his 37 games this season, he is not even up to double digits in losses. He has the second-best GAA going into this weekend with a 2.17 and his save percentage sits at second in the league with a .929. Wolf still leads the league in wins and shutouts as well.
Goaltending has been one of the most consistent and dangerous aspects of the Wranglers’ game and really sets them apart from most of the teams in the league. They have a long line of forwards in their back pocket that provides them with the depth to keep up with the opposing scoring and end up on top at the end of 60 minutes.
The Wranglers’ series against the Eagles kicks off on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. MT and finishes up on Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. MT. You can catch these games at home at the Scotiabank Saddledome or stream them on AHL.tv. FlamesNation contributors Mike Gould and myself will have updates via Twitter.
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