The Calgary Wranglers (29-15-2) returned to action in Nevada, opening up a weekend series with the Henderson Silver Knights for their first games after the AHL All-Star Classic.
Ultimately, the Wranglers suffered a 5-2 loss on the road with a slightly adjusted lineup, without leading scorer Dryden Hunt (41 points) and top defenseman Ilya Solovyov (21 points).
However, captain Clark Bishop was back wearing the “C” while Martin Frk tallied another goal, and Rory Kerins had his first two points since rejoining the team last week with a goal and an assist.
Despite their best efforts and Devin Cooley’s 39 saves, the Silver Knights were dominant and backed by a hat trick from Mitch McLain, who torched his former team with his first hat trick of the season.
Kerins opened the scoring at 4:22 with his 22nd of the year by sniping one under the blocker of Carl Lindblom. Assists on the play went to Sam Morton (18) and Jonathan Aspirot (17). With a helper, Morton extended his point streak to five games.
About seven minutes later, McLain tallied his first of the night on the power play at 11:29 to even things up heading into the second period. The Silver Knights were the only team to break through in the middle frame when Cal Burke gave Henderson their first lead at 15:38.
Frk tied the game at 2-2 just 1:18 into the third period with a power play goal that would make Sidney Crosby proud as he buried a feed from Kerins, sliding on his knees to even things up. Unsurprisingly, Morton picked up his second assist on the night, his fifth helper in the past three games.
McLain took over from there, collecting his second of the night at 13:16 and completing his hat trick at 18:26 into an empty net. Yet, the Silver Knights were not done, as Mason Morelli scored another one with just a second left on the clock.
Each team went 1-for-3 on the power play, while the Silver Knights doubled up the Wranglers in shots, 44-26, reaching double digits in each period.
Lindblom won the goalie battle on Friday night, stopping 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%), while Cooley suffered his third loss since returning from injury, producing a .907 SV% on Friday.
Related: Flames Recall Hunt, Reassign Bishop To Wranglers
He’s 1-3 with 14 goals against and producing a .895 SV%, significantly lower than his season total of .927 SV% that earned him an All-Star Game selection.
The Wranglers, who still have 60 points, remain the top team in the Pacific Division, but they are now only four points ahead of the Coachella Valley Firebirds (56 points).
On Saturday, the Silver Knights and Wranglers meet again for a 7:00 p.m. MT puck drop.
