ProDrills with Dustin Wolf and Calgary Flames Goalie Coach Jason LaBarbera
- Smaller goalies like Dustin Wolf use 'post separation' on dead-angle plays instead of the RVH, which is better suited to taller goaltenders.
- Post separation requires getting off the post on your feet, not dropping into RVH, allowing quicker movement to cover a rebound to the slot.
- Lead every rotation with your eyes and head first before pushing laterally — a key technical cue LaBarbera emphasizes with Wolf.
- The drill builds on itself: dead-angle save, rotate and backside push through the slot, then reorganize on the opposite post for a second save.
- Dustin Wolf posted a .921 save percentage through nine games in his first full NHL season, ranking sixth in the league, validating this technical approach.
Dustin Wolf is coming off his first NHL shutout and off to a great start in his first full season with the Calgary Flames with a .921 save percentage through nine games that ranks sixth in the NHL. There’s a lot of like about how Wolf is playing, including some valuable lessons for younger goalies in how the 6-foot stopper manages everything from traffic to post play.
InGoal Magazine got a chance to watch Wolf working on a couple of those elements with Jason LaBarbera ahead of the season opener, and the Flames goalie coach was kind enough to explain some of the drill details and keys to how Wolf manages them.
We’ll start with what LaBarbera called “post separation” work on dead-angle plays.
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