Flames bounce back with grit, blank Panthers 3-0

Reeling from a blowout loss two nights earlier, the Calgary Flames bounced back impressively on Saturday by blanking the reigning Stanley Cup champions.

Led by rookie goaltender Dustin Wolf, who made 32 saves for his second shutout of the season, Calgary chalked up a 3-0 win over the Florida Panthers, who have been shutout in consecutive games.

“After the last game, everybody wanted to come in and provide a better effort and I thought that's what we did tonight,” said Wolf, who watched Tampa Bay's 8-3 win over Calgary from the bench.

While it was Dan Vladar who struggled that night, Wolf was coming off a rough patch himself. After starting the season 8-2-1, he had lost his last three while surrendering 14 goals.

“There's gonna be nights where bounces don't go your way, games don't go your way, and there's things you can look back on where you want to be better,” said Wolf. “The last couple, I've not been at my best but that's the way hockey goes sometimes. Any time you get the next opportunity, you want to make the most of it.”

After sitting out five of the last six, Wolf got back between the pipes at home where he's been exceptional.

Wolf's splits on the season have been extreme. He's now 8-1-0 at the Scotiabank Saddledome with a .949 save percentage. Comparably, he's 1-4-1 with a .862 save percentage on the road.

“Everybody goes through a stretch or two like that. It's just sticking with it and making sure he knows we continue to believe in him,” said Flames coach Ryan Huska.

“But even in the games where we got beat and he gave up some goals, I didn't think he was poor. I just didn't think the team was as good in front of him.”

Calgary has been struggling of late, entering the night 2-5-2 in its last nine. The tailspin had dropped the Flames out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Blake Coleman said Saturday's win is a reminder that his club isn't going away.

“We just beat the Cup champs. So it shows you that we've got some fight in this group and some punch in us,” said Coleman, whose sixth goal with 55 seconds left in the second period gave the home side a two-goal cushion headed to the third period.

“We've said it all year, if we play that way, we can beat anybody and we feel very confident in that,” said the veteran winger. “It's a hard brand of hockey, so you'd be lying if you said you're going to have it for all 82 games. But if you can have it for 80 per cent of your games, you're going to give yourself a fighting chance to be in a position where it matters down the stretch.”

A key moment in the game came when former Flame Sam Bennett was stopped on a third period breakaway. Mikael Backlund scored right after, his first goal in 15 games, and Calgary was in control.

“Well, it was my turnover, so it was really huge,” said Coleman with a chuckle, asked about the breakaway stop. “That's the kind of goalie he is, especially at home this year, he's just been lights out. If you make a mistake, he's there and he's got your back. He makes that save and Backs puts it away.”

Wolf said he was happy he was able to deliver a big stop in a key moment.

“Any time you can make a save in a third period or a breakaway save in general, your hope is that it brings your team some momentum,” said Wolf.

Backlund said he was proud of his team's effort after imploding in the third period 48 hours earlier.

“After last game and the way we played lately, we could have easily gone the other way,” said the Flames captain. “But the group showed some strength coming out and playing really solid tonight and definitely showing that we're not going away and we're gonna fight till the end and be pushing for a playoff spot.”

Nazem Kadri had Calgary's other goal, his third straight game with a goal.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 24, 2024.