Tuesday night’s intense NHL showdown saw Dustin Wolf, the Calgary Flames‘ netminder, shine with a remarkable performance. Wolf stopped 28 shots in regulation and remained unbeaten for two attempts during the shootout. His sterling defense was instrumental in the Flames’ 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders.
Andersson and Shootout Goals Propel Flames to Victory
The Flames’ Rasmus Andersson netted the only regulation goal for Calgary, his first in seven games, ending a point drought. The game moved into a shootout where Andrei Kuzmenko and Justin Kirkland came through for the Flames. The lone goal for the Islanders came courtesy of Pierre Engvall, who netted his third goal of the season and his third consecutive match scoring.
Wolf Stands Tall Against Palmieri and Horvat in Shootout
Wolf, who now boasts a 7-2-1 record, showcased his superior goaltending skills by denying attempts from Kyle Palmieri and Bo Horvat during the shootout. On the other end of the ice, Islanders’ Semyon Varlamov made 30 saves but couldn’t prevent his record from slipping to 3-3-2.
Missed Opportunities for the Islanders
The Islanders had a golden opportunity to snatch the victory in overtime with a power play. However, a shot from Noah Dobson only found the crossbar, leaving the scoreline unchanged.
Game Highlights: Tense Moments and Key Stats
The Islanders applied considerable pressure early in the third period, but Wolf remained impenetrable, denying a particularly threatening shot from Horvat. Meanwhile, Calgary’s power play, ranking 30th, waited over 46 minutes for their only man advantage of the game. They capitalized on this opportunity with Andersson’s powerful slap shot finding the back of the net past Varlamov.
A pivotal moment came during the shootout. After Yegor Sharangovich and Palmieri’s attempts were denied, Kuzmenko put the Flames in the lead with a swift backhand under the crossbar. Following Wolf’s save on Horvat’s attempt, Kirkland sealed the deal with a quick glove-side shot.
Despite scoring three or fewer goals in 16 consecutive games, the Flames have maintained a respectable 7-6-3 record, owed largely to their reliable goaltending.
What’s Next for the Teams
The Islanders look forward to concluding their five-game road trip in Detroit, while the Flames prepare to host the Rangers this Thursday. The Flames will be keen to build on this victory and continue their formidable form.
