Wolf makes 26 saves, Flames shut out Canadiens

CALGARY -- Dustin Wolf made 26 saves to help the Calgary Flames hold on for a 1-0 win against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday.

It was Wolf’s third shutout of the season, setting a Flames rookie record and tying him for the NHL rookie lead with Leevi Merilainen of the Ottawa Senators.

"Those are fun games to play," Wolf said. "Those are the games you dream of playing -- 1-0, 2-1 -- those are the ones that matter the most. It doesn't really matter how they come right now as long as we find a way to get two points."

Joel Farabee scored for the Flames (30-23-10), who have points in four straight (2-0-2).

"It definitely feels good," Farabee said. "This time of the year you have to be able to win those types of games and having 'Wolfie' play the way he did tonight as incredible. He didn't give up anything, honestly. I felt like we defended pretty well in front of him but the few chances they got he was right on it. A real credit to him too."

Jakub Dobes made 23 saves for the Canadiens (30-27-6), who had a six-game point streak end (5-0-1) with a second straight loss.

"I don't think it was a bad game," Montreal forward Jake Evans said. "I don't think it was our best, and you're playing in these types of games with a team that's in a similar situation as us. It's just one small error can take it away from you. There's a lot less offensive opportunities and you have to work harder for those. It's a tough one to let slip away, but it wasn't that bad a game for us."

Farabee gave Calgary a 1-0 lead on a wrist shot through a Blake Coleman screen from the right face-off dot at 16:21 of the second period for his second goal in as many games.

"He seems to fit right into the way me and [Mikael Backlund] have played for a long time now," Coleman said. "He's a really strong competitor on pucks and we're starting to see the offense come through as well."

Farabee's goal came after Yegor Sharangovich hit the post on a backhand two minutes into the second after being stopped by Dobes on consecutive shots off the rush midway through the first period.

Canadiens forward Cole Caufield hit the crossbar on a cross-ice setup by Lane Hutson 59 seconds into the third period.

Caufield also missed the net on a breakaway at 14:32.

Wolf made two saves, off Caufield and Nick Suzuki, on four shot attempts in the final 1:21 to preserve the win.

"I think we dictated pretty much that whole third," said Caufield, who had a four-game goal streak and six-game point streak end (five goals, two assists). "I think we had our looks in the O-zone, possessed a lot, just couldn't get one past him tonight. Great game by him. We had our chances. It's a tough one to swallow right now, but we'll move on and focus on the next one."

NOTES: Canadiens forward Patrik Laine did not play because of the flu. … Wolf, who has allowed two goals or fewer in four of his past five starts, leads all rookie goalies in starts (38) and wins (22), and is first in goals-against average (2.52) and save percentage (.915) among those with at least 13 games played. ... Wolf, who played 17 of his 56 career NHL games in 2023-24, is the third-fastest Flames netminder to 30 wins behind Miikka Kiprusoff (52) and teammate Dan Vladar (55). ... The Flames are 19-2-0 when leading after two periods this season.