SNAPSHOTS: Flames goalie-of-the-future Wolf treating pre-season loss as ‘nice studying alternative’ Categorical Occasions

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Dustin Wolf would have most well-liked a ‘W.’

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However along with his typical poise and polish, the Calgary Flames’ prized puck-stopping prospect put a optimistic spin on a 5-3 loss within the dwelling half of Monday’s split-squad exhibitions towards the Seattle Kraken.

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Wolf delivered 24 saves in Calgary’s crease. For what it’s price, the dudes who tickled twine on behalf of the Kraken have all logged extra NHL appearances than he has.

“Clearly, these video games suck. You don’t need to lose,” Wolf stated. “However on the identical time, they’re nice video games the place you possibly can study rather a lot from them. You recognize, my motto is, ‘You both win otherwise you study.’

“I’ve gained a variety of hockey video games over the past couple of years and know after we do lose a sport, it’s a very good alternative that you simply’ve gotta come again to earth and return to video and return to the best way you realized the best way to play goaltender and discover new methods to get higher.”

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That remark supplies somewhat perception into why Wolf is already a two-time recipient of the AHL’s goalie-of-the-year award and the reigning MVP within the minors and why many consider the 22-year-old rising star is prepared for a full-time gig with the Flames.

Should you’re monitoring the Battle to be Backup, the incumbent Dan Vladar made Monday’s most convincing case. Vladar racked up 35 saves to backstop the travelling troupe to a 3-2 shootout victory in Seattle.

Within the dwelling crease on the Saddledome, Wolf surrendered a pair of power-play objectives to Kailer Yamamoto and was additionally fooled by Will Borgen, Cale Fleury and Tye Kartye.

He definitely deserved some assistance on Kartye’s tally. He had simply denied the Kraken ahead on a breakaway, however Ben Jones gifted him a second probability with an unsightly turnover.

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Whereas Wolf admitted that he’d prefer to “be somewhat extra crisp with my motion,” he additionally wasn’t going to beat himself up after his first sport motion since Might. He stays 1-0 in NHL begins that rely towards your profession stat-line.

“I believe it’s an important studying alternative,” he careworn after Monday’s pre-season defeat. “Actually, as the sport went on, I felt extra assured and extra comfy within the web. Possibly the rating doesn’t point out how I believe I carried out. However on the identical time, you need to win the video games and giving up 5 will not be probably the most very best state of affairs.”

Not very best, however no person across the Saddledome is fretting about their goalie-of-the-future.

“I do know he would need to are available in in his first sport and never hand over something, however the best way he’s, he’ll look again in any respect the objectives that went in on him and discover a solution to strategy it otherwise subsequent time if he’s in that scenario,” stated Flames head coach Ryan Huska. “You’d hope your gamers, once you don’t have an outing you want to have, would mirror on it. And he’s that kind of participant, he’ll positively do this.”

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AROUND THE BOARDS 

Mikael Backlund, Walker Duehr and Andrew Mangiapane did the lamp-lighting for the locals within the loss in Cowtown. Dryden Hunt and Ilya Solovyov scored in regulation in Seattle, whereas Dillon Dube and Yegor Sharangovich each capitalized within the shootout … Jakob Pelletier, a frontrunner for one of many Flames’ job openings at ahead, suffered an obvious shoulder damage within the closing seconds of the opening interval on the Saddledome and didn’t return for the second or third. The 22-year-old Pelletier was attempting to peel again because the puck-carrier and was launched into the boards by Marian Studenic, who was assessed a serious penalty after this awkward collision. The severity of Pelletier’s damage will not be but identified. “The docs will do some stuff with him tomorrow and we’ll have a greater concept of what it’s,” Huska stated throughout his post-game presser … Duehr is pegged for fourth-line duties, however maybe we’re underestimating his scoring potential. The rugged right-winger snipes seven instances in 27 appearances as a rookie — that’s a 21-goal tempo if he suited up for all 82 — and confirmed mushy fingers to bury a backhander towards the Kraken. “It’s at all times good to contribute,” Duehr stated. “However like I’ve at all times stated, with my sport, it’s not at all times doing that on the scoresheet. It’s good to do this once I can for the staff, however I additionally attempt to give attention to simply taking part in that tough north-south sport and ending checks and simply carrying down the opposite staff.”

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OFF THE GLASS 

Backlund, who collected a pair of factors on the power-play towards the visiting Kraken, was requested after Monday’s morning skate for an replace on contract talks. “I received nothing as we speak,” he replied. “Sorry.” … The 23-year-old Solovyov is often described as a stay-at-home defenceman, however he had a aim, an help and 6 pictures on web in Seattle. Spectacular …  Again in Calgary, the refs advised MacKenzie Weegar to hit the showers early. He someway managed to rack up 24 penalty minutes in a span of two:01 — together with each a 10-minute misconduct and a sport misconduct. “Clearly, feelings received the higher of him,” Huska stated … Subsequent up on the Flames’ pre-season schedule is a visit Wednesday to Winnipeg.

wgilbertson@postmedia.com

X: @WesGilbertson

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