Devin Cooley Keeps Dustin Wolf on the Bench as the Flames Win a Fourth Straight, and Auston Matthews Reaches 800 Points in a Loss

The Calgary Flames have a goaltending decision on their hands, and right now it is going Devin Cooley's way. Cooley made 26 saves in his fourth straight start on Monday night, Matvei Gridin scored twice, and Calgary beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 for its fourth consecutive win. It was the Flames' first win over Toronto since February 10, 2022, snapping an eight-game skid in the series. On the other side, Auston Matthews picked up an assist on William Nylander's third-period goal for the 800th point of his career, becoming the fastest player in Maple Leafs history to the milestone. For fantasy managers, the headline is in Calgary's crease: Dustin Wolf, the presumptive starter entering the season, has now watched four straight games from the bench.

The Cooley takeover

Cooley improved to 4-2-0 with Monday's win. Calgary's coaching staff has turned to him because Wolf struggled to open the season, and the decision has been performance-based rather than injury-driven. Cooley has answered every start with a win during the streak.

That is a significant shift in fantasy value. Wolf was drafted in most leagues as a clear starting goaltender, while Cooley went undrafted in many formats. A four-game run of starts is no longer a rest-day rotation; it is a hot-hand decision, and coaches tend to ride hot goaltenders until they cool off.

Calgary's skaters

Gridin's two goals are the other fantasy takeaway. The young forward is producing during the winning streak, and two-goal nights tend to earn more ice time from a coaching staff that is already in a hot-hand mood. In deeper leagues, he is a speculative add while he is getting opportunity on a team that is scoring. Joel Farabee and Martin Pospisil also scored for Calgary, and the Flames sealed the game late with empty-net insurance.

The context matters too: Calgary was without Jonathan Huberdeau and Sam Honzek due to injury. Missing two regular forwards and still beating a strong Toronto team speaks to depth that fantasy managers should not ignore. When the injured forwards return, some of the minutes Gridin and others are getting will shrink, so the window to use these depth players is now.

Matthews' milestone and Toronto's night

Matthews reached 800 points in 703 games, the fastest pace in franchise history and the second-fastest by a U.S.-born player. He entered the night at 799 after scoring in Toronto's 7-2 win in Edmonton to open the road trip. Easton Cowan scored his sixth goal of the season for the Leafs, and Nylander added the other.

Cowan is the Toronto name with fantasy momentum. Six goals this early in the season is a strong pace for a young forward, and it is coming in a lineup that just scored seven in Edmonton. He is worth rostering in most formats where he is still available.

The loss snapped Toronto's four-game win streak, and Bobrovsky took the defeat despite 29 saves. Toronto's road trip continues, and one quiet night in Calgary does not change the outlook for an offense that put up seven goals two nights earlier.

Why the hot hand matters more in goal

Goaltender rotations behave differently from skater lineups. A forward who is benched can still earn power-play time or a bump up the lineup after an injury, but a goaltender who is not starting produces nothing. That makes the starter's identity the entire fantasy value, and a coaching staff that has found a winning formula has little reason to change it. Four straight starts is not a permanent decision, but it is a clear signal about who the coaches trust today.

How to handle the Flames' crease in fantasy

If you roster Wolf: Do not drop him. Goaltending rotations change quickly, and Wolf's track record is far longer than Cooley's. But bench him until he gets a start, and do not count on a return to a full starter's workload in the short term.

If Cooley is available: Add him. Four straight starts and four straight wins with a team playing well in front of him is the definition of a streaming option with real upside. Check Daily Faceoff each morning for the confirmed starter.

In DFS: Cooley's salary likely has not caught up with his role. A confirmed start for a goaltender on a winning streak is a value play, but always wait for the morning confirmation.

The Verdexed angle

Goaltending is the single biggest swing factor in NHL game predictions, and a starting change like this one moves win probabilities more than almost any skater injury. Verdexed's NHL game picks account for the confirmed starter when it is known, and the daily board is posted at /blog/nhl-picks-2026-10-27 with the full view on the NHL predictions page.

For bettors, the market typically adjusts slowly to a backup-turned-starter. When Cooley is confirmed, Calgary's price may not fully reflect his recent form, which is worth weighing against Wolf's longer track record.

What's next

Calgary's next start in goal is the tell. If Cooley gets a fifth straight start, the job is his for now. If Wolf returns, it becomes a true timeshare. Either way, Wolf managers should prepare for reduced volume and Cooley should be rostered in most competitive leagues until the rotation becomes clear. In Toronto, keep starting Matthews, Nylander and Cowan; the loss in Calgary does not change their value.