'I Don't Like The Word 'Mercy Pull' ': Flames' Rookie Dustin Wolf Gets Yanked For The First Time This Year
Well, this was new.
After 41 starts as a rookie goalie, Dustin Wolf was pulled for the first time this season. But if the Calgary Flames hadn’t been scheduled to play again the following night, chances are that the Calder Trophy candidate probably would have stuck it out for the entirety of what was a St. Patrick’s Day massacre against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday.
“I don’t like the word, ‘mercy pull,’ ” said Flames head coach Ryan Huska.
Whatever you want to call it, Wolf made an Irish Exit and didn’t return for the third period of the 6-2 loss. By then, the score was 5-1 and the game was basically over. Not that any of it was Wolf’s fault. But with Calgary playing the New York Rangers on Tuesday, it made more sense from a strategic standpoint to ensure Wolf was ready for the next game.
"He’s played really well for us. He’s given us a chance every time he’s been in there,” said Huska. “At 5-1, we’ve got a lot of hockey in a short period of time. He’s going to get a lot of games coming up. So it was just a decision to get Vladdy (Dan Vladar) in there and get (Wolf) ready for his next start.”
In other words, expect Wolf to be in the net for what Mackenzie Weegar called a “must win” against the Rangers.
Though he’s just 23 years old, Wolf is the reason why a Calgary team that thought would be in the draft lottery conversation has instead been hovering around a wild card spot for most of this season. He is ranked amongst the top-10 goalies in the NHL with a .912 save percentage. Among rookies, no one comes close to his 41 starts.
On Monday, he might not have been his sharpest. But he wasn't the reason why Calgary lost.
In fact, Wolf’s save on Nylander, who was alone in front of the net in the first period, directly led to the Flames tying the game 1-1. The Flames appeared to tie the game again 2-2 on a power play goal from Morgan Frost in the second, but the goal was called back because of a challenged offside. After that, Calgary got into penalty trouble and Toronto made them pay, with Auston Matthews and William Nylander combining for three goals.
“He’s our backbone back there,” said Weegar. “He’s doing it all for us. He’s making absolutely stunning saves and he’s got so much composure. It’s too bad that coming into the hockey mecca we couldn’t play a little better for him when the bright lights were on him.”
Wolf should get a chance at redemption against the Rangers. Hopefully, he lasts the entire game.
“It’s pretty incredible, actually,” Huska said of Wolf going this long into the season without getting pulled. “When you look at the body of work he’s put in all year long. He’s been very, very consistent. For a young goaltender, that’s something that you have to tip your hat to, because it doesn’t happen that all that often really.
"So he’s done a great job and by no means was this on him tonight in that situation.”