BRYAN WILSON – 11.04.2022
That’s more like it!
The Wranglers hosted the Roadrunners for ‘Hockey Hooky’ at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Friday afternoon in the second of back-to-back games against Tucson. After a 3-1 setback on Tuesday, the Wranglers exacted some revenge, picking up a 3-2 victory.
Ben Jones scored twice for the Wranglers, adding an assist for a three-point performance -earning him the game’s first star – while Matthew Phillips extended his point-streak to six games (3g, 8 pts.) scoring the game-winning-goal on a powerplay late in the third period (18:25). Dustin Wolf got the start between the pipes for the Wranglers, making 33 saves to register his third win of the season.
CGY goal scorers: Ben Jones (2), Matthew Phillips (GWG)
Friday’s contest was a milestone game for both Mitch McLain and Nicholas Meloche, who each appeared in their 200th American Hockey League game.
Playing the same opponent in back-to-back games can create some added animosity between the benches. As they say, familiarity breeds contempt, and the first period was a scrappy affair. Normally known for his scoring prowess, Connor Zary dropped the mitts with Michael Carcone late in the first period, with Carcone receiving an extra minor for instigating.
📹Make it ✌️ for Ben Jones! pic.twitter.com/5UEbEVtx5R
— Calgary Wranglers (@AHLWranglers) November 4, 2022
The Wranglers capitalized on the ensuing powerplay, when Jones redirected a pass from Radim Zohorna, putting the puck off the post and in to give Calgary the 1-0 lead through one period of play.
In the second period, Jones added to the Wranglers lead, scoring top corner on a down-and-out Jon Gillies, to extend the lead to 2-0. The Roadrunners would battle back with goals from Jan Jenik and Nathan Smith to tie the game at two in the third, but a late powerplay for the Wranglers would be the difference maker.
With less than two-minutes remaining in the game, Phillips sent a wrist-shot through traffic and into the back of the net to give the Wranglers the go-ahead goal.
