In a nail-biting contest at the Scotiabank Saddledome, rookie sensation Dustin Wolf continued his impressive run, leading the Calgary Flames to a hard-fought 2-1 shootout victory over the New York Islanders on Tuesday night.
Wolf, who earned his second consecutive start after posting a shutout against Nashville, showed why the Flames’ coaching staff has put their trust in him. The young netminder turned away 28 shots during regulation and overtime, then stood tall in the shootout, denying both Kyle Palmieri and Bo Horvat the opportunity to secure the win.
“He’s deserving of another opportunity, for sure,” said Flames head coach Ryan Huska before the game, reflecting on the team’s recent policy of rewarding shutout performances with consecutive starts. “I’m not going to say it’s a rule, but I just feel like it’s the right thing to do.”
The game remained scoreless until early in the second period when Pierre Engvall broke the deadlock at 1:32. The Islanders forward showcased his skill with a smooth toe-drag move past Flames defenseman Daniil Miromanov before beating Wolf with a quick shot to the glove side.
The Flames, who have struggled offensively in recent weeks, finally broke through on the power play at 8:17 of the third period. Rasmus Andersson ended his seven-game point drought with a blistering one-timer from the slot, set up perfectly by Nazem Kadri. The goal breathed new life into Calgary’s power play, which had been converting at a disappointing rate, going just two for their previous 37 attempts.
The shootout provided the evening’s dramatic conclusion. After a scoreless first round, Andrei Kuzmenko put Calgary ahead with a stylish backhand move that found the top shelf. Following another save by Wolf, Justin Kirkland sealed the victory with a precise shot past Semyon Varlamov’s glove.
The win improves the Flames’ record to 10-6-3, marking their third victory in four games. Calgary’s strong goaltending has helped them maintain a respectable 7-6-3 record during this stretch, despite holding opponents to three or fewer goals for the 16th straight game.
For the Islanders (7-7-5), the loss continues a challenging period that has seen them drop four of their last five games. However, they’ve managed to secure points in six of their last seven outings (3-1-3), showcasing their resilience in tight contests. Varlamov finished the night with 30 saves in a strong performance that deserved a better fate.
The game featured several memorable moments, including Wolf’s spectacular right-pad save on Horvat early in the third period and a remarkable spinning no-look cross-ice pass from Kuzmenko to MacKenzie Weegar that nearly resulted in a goal.
Looking ahead, the Flames will host the Rangers on Thursday, while the Islanders head to Detroit to conclude their five-game road trip. For Calgary, this victory serves as further evidence that their goaltending tandem of Wolf and Dan Vladar continues to provide the stable foundation necessary for success in the highly competitive NHL.