The Wranglers fell 7-4 at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Thursday despite goals from Matvei Gridin, Aydar Suniev, Rory Kerins, and Justin Kirkland.
The night opened at a rough pace, with the Firebirds striking first through Tyson Jugnauth.
Calgary had an immediate answer, with Gridin jumping to pocket one from the slot and level the score, thanks to a tidy feed from Suniev.
But the momentum swung sharply the other way.
Kaden Hammell restored the Firebirds’ lead, Oscar Fisker Mølgaard extended it, and Jugnauth struck again to make it 4-1. Logan Morrison added another moments later.
Calgary refused to fold.
Suniev drove the net late in the frame and buried a much-needed reply, with Nick Cicek providing the assist, trimming the deficit to 5-2 after a chaotic opening period.
The Firebirds made it 6-2 early in the second through Ty Nelson, but the Wranglers pushed back hard.
Kerins slipped behind coverage and buried a slick back-door finish after Dryden Hunt threaded a pinpoint pass through traffic.
Minutes later, a bit of deception from Frk opened the door for another.
Faking a blast from the high slot, he slid a pass to Kirkland at the crease for a tidy tap-in that brought Calgary within two.
Jacob Melanson capitalized on a Wranglers empty net late in the third period to make it 7-4.
The loss puts the Wranglers fifth in the Pacific Division with 28 points.
By: Annie Nadin
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