
The Calgary Flames were expected to have a tough season this season, but, with the end of January approaching, they are still in with a shout at the playoffs. Considering they’ve managed only 2.70 goals per game and a poor power play performance, Calgary’s position can, in part, be attributed to the surprising success of rookie shot-stopper Dustin Wolf, who is now third-favorite to collect the Calder Trophy at the end of his first season.
Unsurprisingly, the NHL is the most popular sport for sports betting fans across Canada. According to sports betting expert James Briscoe, the Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, and Toronto Maple Leafs are the major franchises competing in the league. But, this year has seen the Calgary Flames become an increasingly interesting proposition. They are now +170 to make the playoffs – not bad for a team that was widely tipped to languish near the bottom of the table.
The Flames haven’t performed especially well offensively, only picking up 2.70 goals per game, on average, and finding themselves in the bottom half of the league for a power play performance. Only the Ducks have scored fewer goals so far this term.
Defensively, though, the Flames are holding their own, and that’s thanks to the emergence of rookie Dustin Wolf. Wolf was the fourth from the last pick in his draft year, so fans weren’t expecting too much. However, during the season, Wolf has not only enjoyed his first starts for his club but has usurped veteran netkeeper Dan Vladar.
Wolf is still considered something of a long shot for the rookie’s trophy, with current odds of +1000 at sportsbooks across Canada. Favorites to pick up the trophy are Macklin Celebrini at -137.5 and Lane Hutson at +140.
Their most recent performance, losing 5-2 to the Jets, gave a glimpse of what the season might have looked like without the emergence of Wolf. With Vladar between the sticks, Calgary didn’t play especially poorly. They didn’t make the most of their early chances, but the big difference between the two sides was the quality of shot-stopping.
Jets stopper Eric Comrie did well to prevent a Yegor Sharangovich shot in the first stanza ensuring the Jets kept their noses ahead. It was Comrie’s first win in nine games, despite the Jets sitting atop the league. Vladar actually made 22 saves, to Comrie’s 20, but he was left rooted to the spot on several occasions as he let five pucks past him.
The result brought a Calgary run of three wins to an abrupt end, and it added further fuel to the argument that Wolf is in the running to take the Calder Trophy this season. Not only has Wolf got some of the best shot-stopping stats in the league, but he has the best of all rookie goalkeeping figures. It is likely that, without him, Calgary would be treading water near the bottom of the table.