I for one was hoping Smith would come into this season with a solid start to the campaign. For a few reasons, I believed this would be the case. One, the disappointing end to the season last year where the team crashed and burned down the stretch. When Smith was traded here, I'm sure he thought this was a much better situation that what he had in Arizona. He wants to be part of the turnaround for this team in a new season with lots of new faces. He's a veteran. He wants to win. The team is taking time to adjust to a new system which has placed Smith in some difficult spots during games, sure. However, his numbers have to get to more league avg. type numbers. There are worse teams than the Flames in the NHL. Outside of maybe Murray in Pitt., every team has been getting better goaltending on a more consistent basis. I do not have a stats sheet in front of me, but concerning starters, Smith is nowhere near the upper tier of the league. Most would be happy, as has been stated several times, league avg would be great.
Two, this is a show-me year for him. He's playing for a new contract, or at least another contract in the NHL. The numbers don't lie. His stats are not going to impress anyone. They are abysmal. He and everyone in the hockey world know it. I'm not saying this is his focus, but it is a reality for Smith at this point in his career. He wants to win now and he's playing for a job beyond this season. I don't know. I thought this would be a motivator for him. Perhaps it is something adding pressure on him to perform. I doubt this is accurate. Again, I thought this would be something that would lead to a much better performance from Smith.
I am all for giving players chances to work out of their funk, but when you're a starter in the NHL, and the way the league is now with a high number of 3-point games, giving away points (due to poor goaltending) already makes it more difficult to make the playoffs. Add to that the season the Flames just had under Gulutzan, it's understandable the lack of patience fans and media would have for consistently poor performances from individuals on the team and the team overall.
The go-ahead and eventual game-winner vs Montreal was another one of those "you have got to be kidding!" moments I have experienced as a Flames fan. You know that feeling where you are a fan of the only team where that kind of garbage play would happen. No other team has this level of play from their goaltender. Why Rittich doesn't get least a 50-50 split moving forward these next bunch of games would be very suspect to me. A few other teams seem to allow their backups to play more often with their starter faltering. With the way this season has started for Smith and the Flames, it is certainly time give Rittich a run of games to see if his numbers are more of a fluke or of a goaltender progressing to where is ready for more responsibilities on this team.
His numbers are certainly worthy of an honest look. Let's face it, if Rittich was putting up Smith-like numbers, he'd be back in the AHL (barring injuries of course). Give the kid more chances. He's earning them so far.
Go Flames Go!
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