Wranglers hold off Rocket 6-3; Frk, Parekh each net two

The Calgary Wranglers built an early multi-goal cushion and held off a late Laval Rocket surge to win 6-3 in Calgary. Martin Frk and Zayne Parekh each scored twice, while Nick Cicek and Dryden Hunt added single goals. Ivan Prosvetov made timely saves to preserve the lead and Jacob Fowler took the loss in net for Laval.

Calgary struck early, establishing separation with multiple goals in the opening frame that forced Laval to play catch-up. Frk and Parekh paced the attack with two goals apiece, giving the Wranglers scoring balance and finishing touch from experienced hands. Cicek’s contribution added secondary scoring, and Hunt’s goal provided veteran depth that helped tilt the lineup in Calgary’s favor.

Laval mounted a push in the final minutes, with Jared Davidson and Adam Engström converting late efforts that cut into the margin. Engström’s goal came during a five-on-three advantage, illustrating that Laval’s special teams could create high-danger chances even when the scoreboard pressure was against them. Despite the late power-play success, Laval could not complete the comeback as Prosvetov stopped enough chances to secure the win for Calgary.

Goaltending defined momentum swings in the game. Prosvetov’s key saves came at critical moments after the Rocket gained traction, stabilizing the Wranglers when Laval tilted play into Calgary’s defensive zone. Jacob Fowler started for Laval and was tagged with the loss; the Rocket’s late goals suggested that defensive breakdowns earlier in the contest left too much to make up in the third period.

For the Wranglers, this outcome validates the offense beyond one or two top scorers and signals that depth players can deliver timely goals. Frk’s multi-goal night reinforces his scoring touch at the AHL level and raises his stock as a reliable middle-six option. Parekh’s two goals underscore his emergence as a secondary scorer capable of finishing chances inside the offensive zone. For Laval, the game showed the value of aggressive special teams work but also exposed vulnerabilities in surviving early pressure.

This matchup also matters in the larger AHL-NHL ecosystem. Games like this function as audition stages: players such as Frk, Parekh, and Prosvetov are building resumes that could influence NHL recall decisions. Meanwhile, Laval’s ability to generate power-play chances underlines coaching decisions to optimize man-advantage schemes, but the Rocket will need cleaner starts and steadier net play to turn late rallies into wins.

The Wranglers leave with a confidence-boosting victory and clearer lines of contribution across their forward corps. Laval departs with a checklist of adjustments: tighten early defensive coverage, limit costly penalties, and find consistency in net to convert late surges into full comebacks.