The Calgary Wranglers celebrated one of their four goals on the evening at Tech CU Arena on Friday FEB 10, 2022. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE—The Calgary Wranglers dominated the San Jose Barracuda in 4-1 victory on Friday evening at Tech CU Arena.

San Jose has lost four games in a row in its first game since the All-Star break. Calgary has won two games in a row and regained first place in the Pacific Division with Coachella Valley’s loss to San Diego.

Calgary (32-11-2-0) drew first blood early in the first period with an even strength goal. ‘Cuda goalie Aaron Dell made a save on Ben Jones’ breakaway attempt, but Matthew Phillips tapped home the rebound into an open net for his league-leading 25th goal of the season at the 5:37 mark.

San Jose (18-25-0-3), despite having two power plays in the opening frame, weren’t able to figure out Wranglers’ goalie Dustin Wolf, who stopped all 17 shots he faced.

The Wranglers doubled its lead near the halfway mark of the second period. Phillips won a battle behind the net where the puck found its way onto the stick of Jones who blasted a one-timer past Dell for his 11th goal of the season at the 8:02 mark.

Calgary scored its third unanswered goal late in the middle frame. A great individual effort by Jeremie Poirier where he skated in from right to left, regained his own rebound and wired a wrist shot past Dell for his fifth goal of the season at the 15:22 mark. Kevin Rooney and Colton Poolman were credited with helpers on the goal.

Radim Zohorna made it 4-0 Wranglers early in the third period. Phillips skated into the ‘Cuda zone and fed a pass over to Zohorna who one-timed a point blank shot past Dell for his eighth goal of the season at the 2:01 mark.

Thomas Bordeleau spoiled Wolf’s shutout bid when he scored his team leading 19th goal of the season with 2:20 remaining in the game. Daniel Gushchin set up Bordeleau, who snapped a five-game goal-less skid, along the right slot and the rookie sniper buried a one-timer past Wolf to the short side.

Gilroy native, Wolf stopped 42 of the 43 shots he faced to earn his league leading 27th victory of the season. Dell (7-11-1) made 26 saves on 30 shots in the losing effort, his third straight loss.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 0-for-5 on the power play. Calgary went 0-for-4.

Calgary has outscored San Jose 16-3 in their three wins this season against the ‘Cuda.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Wolf 2) Jones 3) Phillips

UP NEXT: San Jose and Calgary conclude its two-game series on Saturday at 6:00pm at Tech CU Arena.