Goaltending a strength for the Calgary Flames

The burning question about the Calgary Flames training camp still had no answer at nearly the quarter pole of the NHL season.

A bona fide No. 1 goaltender has yet to emerge, but the tandem of Dan Vladar and Dustin Wolf is the strength of a club (8-6-3) still finding its feet.

Calgary’s save percentage (.904) ranked ninth in the NHL on Thursday and 10th in goals-against average (2.94).

“They both fed off each other,” Flames head coach Ryan Huska said Thursday. “I call them 1A and 1A for our team. It’s worked well for us at the moment because they’ve both played so well.

“The pressure one puts on the other with a good performance has been good for our team. They have given our players the good feeling that if a mistake is made, these guys will be there for us no matter who is in the net , so it’s a very big part of us sitting where we are.”

Goaltending has kept a team afloat that played decent five-on-five but was weak on special teams, winning faceoffs and allowing shots against.

Colorado, Columbus, Los Angeles, Ottawa, Pittsburgh, San Jose and Washington have split starts fairly evenly among their goaltenders early this season.

Calgary has run a tandem in the purest sense, as Vladar and Wolf have alternated matches, with the exception of taking turns starting back-to-back in early November.

There may be a pattern, but Huska says that Vladar or Wolf are told which of them is starting the day before each game. Calgary is at home against the Nashville Predators on Friday.

“Both guys would love to play every game, without a doubt, but we are very high on both goaltenders,” Huska said. “It’s a strength for us because we can play against a guy who is always fresh.

“I know sometimes they want to get into a rhythm, and eventually, we’ve talked about it before, we’re going to get to the point where someone’s going to get a few more starts. We’re going to anticipate it.” We’ll both continue to play well, but I like to have the competition, and I like to have a guy you go to who’s fresh and feels good about where he is right now.”

Which man could fill the void left by the trade of Jacob Markstrom to the New Jersey Devils was the prominent storyline to start the season. The Flames don’t need an answer as long as Wolf and Vladar remain difference makers.

Vladar opened with a 3-4-2 record, a 2.65 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage, plus Calgary’s lone shutout. Wolf’s record was 5-2-1 with a 2.84 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage.

Wolf went 1-0-1 in his back-to-back and Vladar 1-1-0 in his. Each goalkeeper also has an assist.

“We’ve both done a pretty good job limiting, I would say, weak goals so far,” Wolf said. “The goals are going in. If we can do our best to keep it under two, keep it under three, we have a pretty good chance of winning every night.”

Vladar took Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to the Canucks in Vancouver, but made flashy saves among his 29 behind tired skaters playing their second game in as many nights.

Although he is one of the best hockey players in his fourth season as a Flame, the 27-year-old Czech’s hip surgery, which ended his season last March, was in retrospect a blessing.

“I play pain-free,” said Vladar. “That helps me focus on my game and getting better every day, instead of just keeping my legs. I’m grateful the coaches made the call. It’s made me a better hockey player.”

A tandem gives the 23-year-old Wolf his first real shot at the NHL after the housecleaning that ended last season.

“Right now it’s working very well for us,” the Californian said. “I’m just starting to get into the competition. It’s my first year and it kind of gives me an opportunity.

“We push each other to give the best of ourselves. If you want to be the best you can, you will probably get another chance to play. The relationship has been excellent so far. If we help the team win games we will all be satisfied.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2024.