Calgary Flames goalie Dustin Wolf delivered a standout performance Saturday night, making 32 saves in a 3-0 victory over the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. The win marked the Flames’ second shutout of the season, while handing Florida its second consecutive shutout loss.
Mikael Backlund led the way offensively for Calgary with a goal and an assist, while Nazem Kadri and Blake Coleman also found the back of the net. The Flames improved to 15-11-5 overall and continued their strong play at the Scotiabank Saddledome, moving to 7-1-1 in their last nine home games.
Wolf’s exceptional play at home has been a critical factor for Calgary this season. With Saturday’s shutout, he improved his home record to 8-1-0, boasting a stellar .949 save percentage and two shutouts. Comparatively, his road performance has been less consistent, with a 1-4-1 record and an .862 save percentage.
“He’s been a rock for us at home,” Flames captain Backlund said. “We knew we needed to tighten up defensively, and Dustin made some huge saves to keep us in it.”
Florida (18-11-2) has now gone 146:01 without scoring, a drought that began during their 4-0 loss to Vancouver on Thursday night. Coming off a seven-game points streak, the Panthers have hit an offensive wall, dropping consecutive games for the first time since late October.
Goalie Spencer Knight did his part, stopping 24 shots for Florida, but the lack of offensive support was glaring.
“We’ve got to find ways to generate offense,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said postgame. “It’s not for a lack of effort, but we’re overthinking things in the offensive zone.”
Flames rebound defensively after conceding 21 goals in their previous four games — including eight in a loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday — Calgary delivered one of its most complete defensive efforts of the season. Florida’s top scorers were held in check yet again, and the team’s power play went 0-for-3 on the night.
The Flames Dustin Wolf has been nearly unbeatable at home, further solidifying his role as Calgary’s go-to netminder in high-pressure situations.
Florida will look to end its scoring drought on Monday night when it visits the Edmonton Oilers. Calgary, riding momentum, will host the Boston Bruins on Tuesday in what promises to be a challenging test against one of the league’s top teams.
With their defense back on track and Wolf standing tall in net, the Flames are proving they’re a team to watch in the Western Conference playoff race. Meanwhile, the Panthers need to regroup quickly to avoid falling into a deeper slump.
