Tonight at 7:00 PM MST, the San Jose Barracuda (28-15-2-2, 60 points) will face the Calgary Wranglers (19-20-10-2, 50 points) at the Scotiabank Saddledome in a key AHL game. With the Wranglers looking to protect their recent overtime victory, this Calgary Wranglers game preview highlights the stakes and players to watch.
San Jose Barracuda’s Recent Form and Season Performance
San Jose enters this game after a 4-3 overtime loss to the Wranglers on Saturday. Over their last five outings, the Barracuda have posted a 2-2-1-0 record, averaging 3.6 goals per contest while conceding 3.4. Despite the recent setback, they remain undefeated against Calgary this season, holding a 5-0-1-0 record versus the Wranglers.
Calgary Wranglers Recent Developments and Seasonal Stats
Calgary’s overtime win against San Jose was secured by William Stromgren’s decisive goal. In their past five games, the Wranglers have earned a 3-1-1-0 record, scoring 3.6 goals per game and allowing four. Against the Barracuda this season, Calgary’s record stands at 1-5-0-0, showing a struggle to maintain control until this recent victory.
Projected Player Lineups for the Showdown
San Jose Barracuda’s expected forward lines include Chernyshov-Huntington-Wahlstrom, Musty-Giles-Afanasyev, Crkovic-Hoffman-Halttunen, and Houle-Vanroboys-Vincent. The defense pairs consist of Allan-Cagnoni, Carlsson-Havelid, and Hache-Thompson, with Brossoit in goal supported by Carriere as the backup.
For Calgary, forwards Bishop-Kirkland-Ciona, Stromgren-Kerins-Frk, King-Morton-Suniev, and Bell-Silye are anticipated. Their defensemen will be Cicek-Miromanov, Ottenbreit-Brzustewicz, and Grushnikov-White. Morin and Sergeev serve as goaltenders, with Prosvetov also on the roster.
Key Players to Follow During the Game
For San Jose, Filip Bystedt leads the team with 36 points and 23 assists, while Oliver Wahlstrom tops the goal scoring chart with 18 goals. Jack Thompson stands out defensively, holding a plus-ten rating this season.
The Wranglers rely heavily on Rory Kerins, who has 43 points and shares the lead in assists (27) with William Stromgren. Martin Frk leads Calgary in goals (19) and also has a plus-ten rating, demonstrating his impact on both ends of the ice.
Upcoming Schedule and Season Outlook
Following tonight’s game, both teams continue this series with San Jose visiting Calgary again on February 25. This rivalry remains significant due to the close standings and previous game outcomes.
This matchup will likely influence playoff positioning and momentum for both squads in the highly competitive AHL Western Conference. Fans can expect a tightly contested battle as the Wranglers work to maintain their newfound edge and the Barracuda aim to reclaim dominance in this rivalry.
“The Barracuda lost 4-3 in overtime Saturday night to the Calgary Wranglers.” ? San Jose Barracuda report
“The Wranglers beat the Barracuda in overtime 4-3 on Saturday, thanks to William Stromgren’s overtime winner.” ? Calgary Wranglers update
