Wranglers split road series in Odessa

The Amarillo Wranglers returned from a challenging road trip to Odessa with two valuable points in hand after splitting a two-game series against the Jackalopes. A dominant performance on Friday was followed by a tough loss on Saturday, leaving Amarillo with a 13–14–0–1 record and 27 points in the NAHL South Division. With the season nearing its halfway point, every point continues to matter for a Wranglers team firmly in the playoff hunt.

Friday night set the tone for what Amarillo hoped would be a momentum-building weekend. Sitting one game below .500 and just three points out of fourth place, the Wranglers knew the opener carried extra importance. They wasted little time establishing control. Center Ty Izadi continued his strong stretch of play by scoring on the power play late in the first period, giving Amarillo a 1–0 lead after one.

The Wranglers came out flying in the second period. Tyler Tsoukalas struck early to double the lead, and while Odessa briefly answered to make it a one-goal game, Amarillo responded immediately. Veteran forward Mason Lupo provided a spark with a coast-to-coast effort that resulted in his first unassisted goal of the season, restoring a two-goal cushion. Amarillo continued to press, and Daniel Rassega added his team-leading 14th goal off a setup from defenseman Caden Hegarty. Izadi capped off the night with an empty-net goal, sealing an impressive 5–1 victory. Between the pipes, Charles Antoine Girard delivered another strong outing, earning his ninth win of the season with a .923 save percentage.

Saturday’s rematch proved to be a different story. Entering the night with a 4–7 record on Saturdays, Amarillo had a chance to climb into a three-way tie for the final playoff spot. Instead, Odessa jumped ahead early and never fully relinquished control. Two first-period goals gave the Jackalopes a 2–0 advantage heading into intermission, putting the Wranglers on their heels.

Amarillo’s lone bright spot came in the second period when captain Jacob Miller found the back of the net, cutting the deficit to one and briefly swinging momentum. However, the third period turned into a high-scoring affair that favored the home team. Despite adding two more goals, the Wranglers were unable to keep pace as Odessa pulled away for a 6–3 win.

Even with the split, there are encouraging signs for Amarillo moving forward. The Wranglers have a history of dominant scoring lines, and this season’s emerging trio of Caden Hegarty, Daniel Rassega, and Ty Izadi is quickly making its case. Dubbed Hegs and the Hounds, the line has combined for 28 points over the last six games, providing consistent offensive production when the team needs it most.

As Amarillo returns home this weekend for holiday hockey against the El Paso Rhinos, the focus shifts to building consistency and capitalizing on home-ice advantage. If their top line continues its strong play and the Wranglers can string together complete performances, the playoff picture in the South Division could look much brighter in the weeks ahead.