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Wranglers series preview: Time to leverage home-ice advantage
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Photo credit: David Moll/Calgary Wranglers
Paige Siewert
Feb 28, 2025, 11:00 ESTUpdated: Feb 28, 2025, 03:15 EST
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The Calgary Wranglers have one more chance this weekend to try and get a win before the end of February. They come home after three road losses and eight straight losses to try and work the magic of their own barn to return to their winning ways. Calgary hosts the Abbotsford Canucks for a back to back and need to get some things clicking before it further hurts their spot in the standings.

Projected lines

Calgary
William Stromgren – Rory Kerins – Martin Frk
Kyler Kupka – Sam Morton – Clark Bishop
Lucas Ciona – David Silye – Parker Bell
Alex Gallant – Brett Davis – Trevor Janicke
Yan Kuznetsov – Tyson Barrie
Artem Grushnikov – Hunter Brzustewicz
Jonathan Aspirot – Jeremie Poirier
Devin Cooley
Waltteri Ignatjew 
Abbotsford
Linus Karlsson – Aatu Raty – Jonathan Lekkerimaki
Sammy Blais – Max Sasson – Danila Klimovich
Tristen Nielsen – Chase Wouters – Nate Smith
Ben Berard – Cooper Walker – Dino Kambeitz
Joe Arntsen – Cole McWard
Christian Wolanin – Jett Woo
Akito Hirose – Kirill Kudryavtsev
Nikita Tolopilo
Ty Young

Leaders 

Calgary 
Martin Frk – 48GP, 21G, 24A
Dryden Hunt – 43GP, 12G, 31A
Rory Kerins – 43GP, 22G, 18A
Abbotsford
Aatu Raty – 31GP, 13G, 17A
Nils Aman – 36GP, 7G, 23A (Inactive on NHL call-up)
Christian Wolanin – 37GP, 3G, 25A

Notes and expectations

It’s no secret the Wranglers’ lineup is running a little lean these days. For the players that are still with the team, some of the regular contributors, (like the top line), have gone a little quiet. None of Martin Frk, William Stromgren or Rory Kerins has made it on the scoresheet the last two games and the only goal from the Flames’ affiliate came from a defencemen when Hunter Brzustewicz scored against the Ontario Reign.
The last time these teams met actually kicked off the Wranglers’ losing streak. They beat the Canucks 5-1 on Jan. 31 and the Canucks flipped the score to win the next game and split the series. Calgary still holds the edge in the season series with a 4-2-0-0 record. Both teams look to change the tides as Abbotsford is coming off being swept by the Tucson Roadrunners last weekend. 
Even with Calgary’s tough run in February, they still hold the second seed in the Pacific Division. They fell from their usual top spot and were replaced by the Ontario Reign. Closely behind them are the Coachella Valley Firebirds and Colorado Eagles. Abbotsford on the other hand, are tied for fifth with the San Jose Barracuda. For Calder Cup Playoff qualification, the Wranglers need to stay within the top seven of the division and would get a first-round bye if they turn things around and clinch the top spot in the Pacific. 
This series starts on Friday at 7:00 p.m. MT and continues on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. MT. Tickets are still available for both games and streaming options are available for a fee on AHLtv on Flo Hockey. Sportsnet 960 will carry the radio call and multiple FlamesNation contributors will have updates on X (formerly Twitter). 
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