Calgary Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom is out week to week with a fractured finger, the team announced Tuesday. No surgery is required on Markstrom’s finger, per the Flames. Calgary recalled goalie Dustin Wolf from the Flames’ AHL-affiliate Wranglers, the team announced.
Markstrom, 33, sustained the injury during Flames practice Monday. He took a puck off his right hand, immediately took off his pad and left the ice.
Markstrom is playing his fourth season with the Flames. During the 2023-24 season, Markstrom is 6-8-2 with a 2.94 goals-against average and .896 save percentage. His GAA ranks 26th among NHL goalies while his SV% is 35th.
Jacob Markstrom is out week to week with a fractured finger, per @NHLFlames. Dustin Wolf has been recalled from the Wranglers.
— Julian McKenzie (@jkamckenzie) December 5, 2023
Wolf, 22, is 10-3-0 with the Wranglers in 2023-24, posting a 2.50 GAA and .920 SV%. He started in one NHL game this season for the Flames, a 4-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Nov. 11.
Flames backup goalie Dan Vladar has a 4-2-1 record along with a 3.20 GAA and .883 SV%. He’s started seven games in 2023-24.
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The Flames are 10-11-3, sitting fourth in the Pacific Division. In its last 10 games, Calgary is 6-3-1. The Flames host the Wild on Tuesday.
How significant is Markstrom’s absence?
During Monday’s practice, Markstrom took the puck off the hand while trying to make a save. He then found himself on the ice writhing in pain with Chris Tanev calling for a trainer. Markstrom then got up and left the ice, with his right hand dangling. It did not look good for the 33-year-old.
Unlike last season when he was not in form, Markstrom has been reliable for the Flames. If it weren’t for his team adjusting to new offensive and defensive concepts, among other structural issues, Markstrom’s numbers would look better.
“He set a bit of a tone, or the mood, in regards to how he came back over the summer,” Flames coach Ryan Huska said. “I think a lot of people looked to him to see how he would respond. When his teammates came back to see the mentality or the shape that he was in. The edginess that he had, I think it rubbed off on a lot of people.
“We know early in the year the games could’ve been much worse if it wasn’t for his play early on for us. So, he’s been excellent. He really has in a lot of different ways.”
The Flames endured some hardships last season, but injuries weren’t a factor. In the present day, Markstrom is the team’s biggest piece to hit injured reserve. Of course, it came just as the Flames were crunching through a tough part of their schedule. A slowly resurging Minnesota Wild is next on the docket. Carolina and New Jersey after that. The Flames will see Vegas one more time. Tampa Bay, Florida, Anaheim and Los Angeles, too.
Flames’ goaltending hasn’t been the team’s biggest issue throughout the year. But if it doesn’t hold up in Markstrom’s absence, it could douse the Flames before the holidays. — Julian McKenzie, Flames beat writer
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Who steps up?
With Markstrom out for the foreseeable future and will have to rely on a tandem of Vladar and Wolf.
Vladar’s last game was his best of the season, making 27 saves in an overtime win over the Vegas Golden Knights with Markstrom leaving before puck drop due to illness. But this is his chance to show he’s been better than his previous, sub-900 performances.
GO DEEPER
Dan Vladar's best game of the season proves that goaltending isn't Flames' problem
Wolf has played one game this season for the Flames, allowing four goals in a loss to the Ottawa Senators. But only one of those goals was his fault. The Sens generated net-front traffic and scored twice, while a Nikita Zadorov turnover led to another goal against. There is still a lot riding on Wolf as fans hope he is this team’s future in net. Many will be watching closely to see how he is deployed these next few weeks. — McKenzie
Required reading
- NHL at the quarter mark: One stat that sums up each team’s season so far
- Why the Calgary Flames traded Nikita Zadorov now and what it could mean for future plans
(Photo: Sergei Belski / USA Today)