Barn Burner: With his unique play style, Dustin Wolf is starting to find his footing in the NHL

On Monday’s episode of Barn Burner, Boomer, Pinder, and Rhett broke down what they are seeing from Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf after another stellar performance against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday afternoon.

After struggling through his first couple of starts at the NHL level, Wolf has been rock solid in a pair of wins over the Vegas Golden Knights and the Canadiens, allowing only three goals on sixty seven shots.

During some of the earlier starts for Wolf this year, skeptics of the Flames top prospect  voiced their doubts about the player, in particular, his size. In the segment, the fellas would discuss the viewing adjustments fans will have to make as Wolf shows off his unique play style.

“I can see where people say he is too short… The point I’m getting at is it’s neither here nor there for good or bad as long as he’s playing good and winning. It’s a different style of game I think,” said Rhett on the young Flames goaltender. “Once you see enough of it and the success is their you’ll be like ‘oh, that’s just the game.’ but it is a different viewing.”

“We’re just used to seeing these monsters,” said Pinder. “Vladar and Markstrom are 6’7″ and 6’6″. They look like NBA guys like their elbows standing up are at the crossbar. When they bend over, their lower back is touching the cross bar. That isn’t Wolf. He looks smaller because he is but it’s the same sport and the same size nets as all the leagues he’s been player in the league in when he was competing against these massive goalies that he was better than. This is the only league he hasn’t looked like a mega stud and, you know, let’s hope he does. He would be continuing the pattern of proving people wrong.”

Boomer: “Watching him play the position, because he is smaller, when he goes side to side it’s such a different style because certainly with Markstrom and Vladar, they barely move to go post to post. When they’re in their butterfly it’s a small push from one post to the other. For Wolf, he’s swinging back and forth.”

With Jacob Markstrom still on the shelf with an injury, the fellas also discussed that the leash could be loosened a little bit with Wolf while on his current run, which would allow their starter to get some more rest.

Rhett: “I think we are all realistic enough to know what Markstrom is. Now would be a real good chance to find out what Wolf is.”

Pinder: “If they’re two points out of a Wild Card, Jacob Markstrom is probably playing at least one of the last two games. It doesn’t sound like it’s something significant but given where they are, how much he’s played, you can get him a little rest and take a look in the cupboard. It’s a win for everyone.”

Wolf will get his third consecutive start on Monday when the Flames welcome Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals to the Scotiabank Saddledome.

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