Quote:
Originally Posted by chummer
NHL radio saying today the Flames have goaltending issues.
Pfffft.
|
Except that's old new, they're both playing lights out. Smith looks like a new goaltender, and both guys are consistently the best goalie on the ice, even if it isn't always pretty, which is why they get the wins. What's lost on these writers is this isn't a team that will be relying heavily on their goalies to eke out wins. Their depth lines dominate shifts, while the first line - tops in the league in the first half - is starting to gain traction again. The team is a four line machine right now. Two games this week they allowed under 10 shots after two periods. They out-defended the stingy, Trotz-led Islanders twice. It's a blue moon when they give up 30 shots now it seems (giving up 3rd least SA/G in the league). Now that Smith has returned to NHL form, both are probably good bets to put up firmly average starter performances, and that's all the Flames need to be successful because the team in front of them takes care of ####ing business.
They're 10/11 points up on the defacto "western favorite" Preds and Jets today, probably putting them out of reach of both, with 5-6 weeks left in the season.
If people aren't giving them the credit they deserve as a top team and threat in the west, they need to look again.