Time for some Moose huntin’.
The Wranglers are set to host the Manitoba Moose tonight at 7 p.m. at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
The double-header matchup continues again on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
The Matchup
Calgary comes into this week’s series after securing back-to-back victories over the Tucson Roadrunners.
With a 17-5-1 record, the Wranglers sit atop the Pacific Division and are in second place in the AHL standings.
On the other hand, the Moose, sitting at the bottom of the Central Division with a 6-12 record, are looking to turn their season around.
The Wranglers have already faced Manitoba earlier in the season, with the two teams meeting in Winnipeg on Nov. 29 and Dec. 1.
Calgary returned from the trip with two wins under their belt: the first a dominant 6-1 victory, where the Wranglers nearly recorded a shutout, only for the Moose to spoil the effort with a late goal in the dying seconds.
In the second meeting, a tighter, more competitive affair saw the Wranglers edge out a 3-2 win.
But while the numbers may suggest a lopsided matchup, Calgary knows better than to take anything for granted.
No team is ever truly out of the fight.
As the top team in the Pacific Division, the Wranglers know they’ll have a target on their back, and lower-ranked opponents such as the Moose are more than capable of rising to the occasion.
“We’ve been talking more about our starts lately, and I feel like our starts have been good, it’s just something that we have to sustain,” said Head Coach Trent Cull.
Players to Watch
One player who has been making a name for himself lately is William Stromgren.
The Swedish forward has been given a new opportunity, as he’s found himself paired with a couple of new linemates – Dryden Hunt and Rory Kerins.
With Jakob Pelletier and Walker Duehr both recently called up to the Flames, Stromgren has stepped into a more prominent role, and the results have been impressive.
In their last game on Dec. 7, Stromgren recorded a three-point night, along with a goal in the previous match on Dec. 6, proving his potential in this new-look line.
17 SECONDS INTO THE GAME!! pic.twitter.com/XP76qfEmM2
— Calgary Wranglers (@AHLWranglers) December 7, 2024
Stromgren for the solo play!!! 1-0 us! pic.twitter.com/y3bUA9f3xZ
— Calgary Wranglers (@AHLWranglers) December 8, 2024
Dynamic duo play!!! pic.twitter.com/ln7zIhKXm0
— Calgary Wranglers (@AHLWranglers) December 8, 2024
Speaking about his new partners, Stromgren had high praise for Hunt and Kerins.
“Huntsy and Ror are two skilled players who really know how to bring your tempo up,” Stromgren said. “We’ve got good chemistry already, even though it’s only been a couple of games. If we keep building on it, we could become a really dangerous line.”
On the other side of the ice, the Moose will be looking to their leading scorer, Nikita Chibrikov, to provide some offensive spark.
With 13 points (eight goals, five assists) on the season, Chibrikov has been the standout performer for Manitoba.
How to Watch
Don’t miss a moment of the action! Tune in to AHLTV on FloHockey to catch all the live coverage. How to Watch.
