Dan Vladar got the first start for the Calgary Flames but Dustin Wolf should have equal opportunity this season
Although Dan Vladar got the nod in net for the Calgary Flames NHL season opener, you can bet Dustin Wolf will have his chance soon.
Maybe as soon as tonight's home opener against the Philadelphia Flyers, with the team playing two games in two nights in two different cities.
The Flames won't be leaving the province, but head north to face the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday, meaning Wolf should start one of the two contests in a span of 24 hours. Given Vladar's small but successful sample size against the Oilers, it would make sense to put the veteran between the pipes up north.
Then again, if Vladar was deemed the winner of the training camp battle, the Flames may also want to reward him with the start in the home opener. It should be an exciting night as the Flames welcome fans to a red carpet arrival event that will see the players enter the Dome publicly instead of through the usual back entrance.
Vladar allowed five goals against in the season opener in Vancouver — a wild 6-5 overtime win after the Flames came back from 3-0 and 4-1 deficits in the first period to pull off the unlikely victory. It wasn't an impressive night for Vladar by any means, but he was sharper over the final 40-plus minutes. Last year's main backup to Jacob Markstrom has recovered well from his hip surgery last spring.
Wolf is pegged as the Calgary Flames franchise's goaltender of the future, but he may have to rip the job away from Vladar this season with his play in any opportunities he gets along the way. Vladar may have the first opportunity to run the crease early, but if Wolf gets hot, they could easily split starts all year long by riding the hot hand.