Good write up.
Smith was damn good tonight.
The only goal, while arguably stoppable (2 on 1, the D took away the pass and gave him the shot), was among that 5-10 percent of shots that shooters take on goalies and go in. (Just didn’t quite get down quickly enough and it was placed well. Somebody turned down the gravity, perhaps. )
Some huge saves, including that highlight reel late beauty.
I have been less high and low about him than a lot of folks. Last year for sure in part because save percentage is a team stat, and last year down the stretch after his return, it was a combo of him and the team causing issues. (Still have taken opportunity when he was struggling to make a joke about moving goalposts)
I was pleased but cautious of late, as I saw a lack of real challenge in quite a few of his ‘triumphant return to form’ games recently. Solid, but not spectacular. Aggregate results of late are definitely piling up in his favour . That is great. He wasn’t letting in the backbreakers, gave the team a chance to win, and they won. I thought he fought off some rebounds and glove side shots, while saving what he had to and not costing the team.
Tonight? A really good game against a quality opponent. Some real good sequences. Sure hope this is what we see moving forward and he is not hurt
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