The Calgary Flames are officially on a roll, and anyone hoping for a high draft pick is going to be disappointed. On Saturday, December 6, 2025, the Flames delivered a textbook, grinding performance to defeat the visiting Utah Mammoth 2-0 at the Scotiabank Saddledome, extending their impressive run to a record of 6-2-1 over their last nine contests.
Wolf Stands Tall in Statement Performance
After watching from the bench for a few games, goaltender Dustin Wolf returned to the crease with a vengeance. The sophomore netminder was flawless, turning aside all 27 shots he faced to record a shutout against the Mammoth. This stellar performance came just two nights after he stopped 26 of 27 shots in a win over the Minnesota Wild.
"You know what, I had a second to recoup," Wolf explained post-game. "I wasn't really happy with some areas of my game... to come in and like where my game is at and keep building, at the end of the day you're trying to give your team a chance to win, and so far, so good." His recent play has been a cornerstone of the Flames' sudden resurgence.
Fast Start and a Grind to the Finish
The Flames set the tone for the evening almost immediately. Forward Yegor Sharangovich electrified the home crowd by finding the back of the net a mere 16 seconds into the first period. From there, the game settled into the tight-checking, defensive style that has become Calgary's identity. The Flames locked down the Mammoth, blocking shots and winning battles along the boards.
The insurance goal didn't come until late in the third period when Connor Zary sealed the victory with an empty-net marker with just over two minutes remaining. It wasn't a flashy affair, but it was effective. As centre Nazem Kadri noted, "It's definitely nicer to be on that side of things than the opposite. In here, internally, I think we understood that at some point that was going to happen."
A Team Transformed
The victory improves the Flames' overall record to 11-15-4, while the Mammoth fall to 14-13-3. More importantly, it signals a complete turnaround for a squad that looked hopeless just a few weeks ago. They have climbed out of the NHL's basement and are beginning to resemble the hard-nosed, difficult-to-play-against team that found success in the previous season.
This win, like several others during this streak, was built on a foundation of relentless forechecking, shot blocking, and excelling in the game's tough areas. The Flames are proving they don't need to score in bunches to win; they just need to play their system to perfection, and with Dustin Wolf providing elite goaltending, that formula is suddenly producing consistent results.
