Riley Pollock – 10.05.24

Looking to push it to five.

The Calgary Wranglers need a win tonight in Palm Springs to keep their season alive. The Wranglers battle the Coachella Valley Firebirds in Game 4 of the best-of-five series at 8 p.m. MT. They currently trail the series 2-1.

Calgary won Game 1, but the Firebirds have rattled off two-straight wins with the most recent one coming Wednesday in a 7-5 victory. Jeremie Poirier led the way for the Wranglers with a goal and three points in the loss.

 

Calgary scored first in Game 3 and managed to tie the game up at two, three and four before the Firebirds pulled away with two powerplay goals on a double-minor penalty for high sticking in the third period.

Max McCormick and Marian Studenic had two goals apiece to pace the Firebirds to the win.

It was a battle of the powerplays on Wednesday as the Wranglers went four-for-seven with the man advantage while the Firebirds struck twice on their four opportunities.

The Wranglers were just 1-for-14 in the Calder Cup Playoffs heading into Game 3 before the four-goal outburst.

Calgary was down to this same Firebirds team 2-1 last year before forcing a Game 5 with a 1-0 win.

Catch the action tonight on AHL TV with Sandra Prusina and Cass Vilgrain on the call.

 

 Next Games

Game 5: Sun. May 12, 4 p.m. If Necessary

 

Playoff Scoring Leaders:

Wranglers:

Adam Klapka – 7 points (2G, 5A)

Matt Coronato – 6 points (1G, 5A)

Cole Schwindt – 5 points (4G, 1A)

Firebirds:

Max McCormick – 4 points (3G, 1A)

Devin Shore – 3 points (2G, 1A)

Marian Studenic – 3 points (2G, 1A)

 

Regular Season Leading Scorers:

Wranglers:

Adam Klapka – 46 points (21G, 25A)

Ben Jones – 43 points (21G, 22A)

Matt Coronato 42 points (15G, 27A)

 

Coachella Valley:

Kole Lind – 65 points (17G, 48A)

Max McCormick – 60 points (32G, 28A)

Cameron Hughes – 57 points (25G, 32A)

 

WRANGLERS PLAYER TO WATCH: Jakob Pelletier

Keep your eye on Jakob Pelletier tonight.

Pelletier picked up his first goal of the playoffs in game three after being snake bitten for much of the first four playoff games. If the Wranglers force game five he could be a big part of it.