Flames' Andersson praises rookie Wolf: 'He's been awesome'
Dustin Wolf enjoyed another gem of a performance during Calgary's 2-1 shootout win over the New York Islanders on Tuesday, but Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson isn't surprised by the rookie goalie's poise.
"The more comfortable you get in this league, the more you believe in yourself, the more success you're going to have," Andersson said postgame. "(Wolf), for sure, believes in himself quite a bit. He's been awesome, especially the last seven, eight games he's played. He saved us tonight."
Wolf now owns a dazzling 7-2-1 record while ranking within the top eight in save percentage (.925) and goals against average (2.36) among all goalies to make at least five starts this season. His 8.19 goals saved above average and 8.18 goals saved above expected at all strengths also lead the rookie class by a large margin, per Evolving-Hockey.
The 23-year-old has been particularly outstanding as of late, with a 4-0-1 record in his last five starts:
| Opponent | Result | SA | xGA | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadiens (Nov. 5) | 3-2 (OTW) | 24 | 3.72 | .917 |
| Bruins (Nov. 7) | 4-3 (OTL) | 38 | 3.75 | .895 |
| Kings (Nov. 11) | 3-1 (W) | 29 | 2.55 | .966 |
| Predators (Nov. 15) | 2-0 (W) | 29 | 3.73 | 1.000 |
| Islanders (Nov. 19) | 2-1 (SOW) | 29 | 2.49 | .966 |
Statistics courtesy of Natural Stat Trick.
When asked to describe his recent play, Wolf admitted "the zone" was an apt description.
"'Zone' is definitely a great word to use," he said. "That's kind of the stuff I work on, the mindfulness side of the game. If you can reach that zone, you're going to feel good."
He added: "You're reading plays well ... you're kind of envisioning what's going to happen next. You're seeing through bodies, you're just connected. And it's a good feeling to have, and one you certainly have to work every day to keep."
Wolf's excellent play has created a good problem for head coach Ryan Huska. The Flames have largely been platooning Wolf and Dan Vladar, who's also performed admirably with a .906 clip in nine appearances.
Both netminders have gotten two straight starts on at least one occasion so far, but neither of them has appeared in three consecutive games. That might change when Calgary hosts the New York Rangers on Thursday.
"(Wolf's) been great, what can you say?" a smiling Huska said after beating the Islanders. "We'll have some conversations after the game, for sure."
The Flames entered Wednesday in third place in the Pacific Division with a 10-6-3 record and a .605 points percentage.