Calgary Flames
Canadian NHL Team Review: Bouchard, Raty & Wolf Shine Saturday Night
Saturday’s Canadian NHL action delivered big plays: Bouchard dazzles, Raty breaks out, and Wolf shuts the door on Utah
Saturday was a busy night for Canada’s NHL teams, and a few made statements that go a long way in both the standings and in building team confidence. The Edmonton Oilers have found their offense and reminded everyone why Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are the league’s most deadly duo. Meanwhile, Vancouver had players step up when Elias Pettersson unexpectedly went missing in action. Finally, the Flames were given another reason to be confident that the season isn’t a write-off.
For fans of Canadian hockey teams, these performances are worth noting.
Oilers 6, Jets 2 – Evan Bouchard Red Hot
The Oilers jumped on a tired Winnipeg Jets team, who were playing in back-to-back contests. Edmonton has exploded for offense, and the Oilers dropped four goals in the first period and cruised to a 6–2 win at Rogers Place. Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard each had a goal and an assist, while Connor McDavid added two helpers.
Edmonton’s first-period dominance—16–5 in shots—set the tone early. As well, Stuart Skinner’s calm play in the crease kept the Jets from mounting any serious comeback.
McDavid and Draisaitl continue to elevate their teammates, but Bouchard’s game has really come on strong of late. The team added scoring from the fourth line, and defenseman Alec Regula played a season high, on the ice for more than 20 minutes. The Oilers appear more balanced and connected, which fans would say is long overdue.
Canucks 4, Wild 2 – Raty Breaks Out
Aatu Raty stole the show in Vancouver, scoring twice and adding an assist in a 4–2 win over Minnesota. His performance suggests that he could become more than a temporary fill-in. The timing of his emergence is nearly perfect. Räty isn’t yet a household name. However, there’s a good chance he can give the Canucks a solid center.
Tom Willander scored his first NHL goal, and young defenseman Elias Pettersson also contributed, helping the Canucks snap a five-game slide. Willander is an integral part of Vancouver’s youth pipeline, which could shape the kind of trades the Canucks are willing to make as they shop veterans and UFAs.
Nikita Tolopilo’s 28 saves provided steady goaltending, allowing Vancouver’s young forwards to take calculated risks and generate offense.
Flames 2, Mammoth 0 – Wolf Stands Tall
Calgary’s Dustin Wolf posted his second shutout of the season, turning aside 27 shots in a 2–0 win over Utah. Yegor Sharangovich scored just 16 seconds in, the Flames’ fastest opener since last April, and Connor Zary sealed the win with an empty-netter. Calgary’s penalty kill has been stellar, going 17-for-17.
Outside of a blip against the Lightning, Wolf has found his game for the Flames. His shutout comes after a .963 save percentage outing against the Wild and a .917 performance against Nashville. He’s bouncing back from a rough start.
Also bouncing back is Sharangovich, whose offensive instincts are finally showing returns.
Trade chatter will continue to surround the Flames, but wins behind a franchise goaltender could change how much the organization is willing to consider.
Related: Oilers Confirmed to Have Interest in Jarry, But Snag Holding Up Trade
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