[IliketoPuck]

@theAcerbicCyberBully

Therein lies our difference in opinion.

I'm more of the mind to rely on the respective results displayed by each goaltender over a larger sample size.

Recency bias is certainly something to consider here, both as fans, and for the Flames in evaluating their "best" option.

As you know, such bias by its very nature causes us to overlook key indicators of danger when evaluating data. Such as, a 5 game winning streak vs. over a year of bottom tier goal tending. Sure, we might experience continued outliers for a period of time, but a regression should be expected (and guarded against). Especially so when evaluating a goaltender that is in his late 30's. Expecting continued positive out performance on that basis is not prudent.

The opposite argument could be made for Rittich. His recent games showed an abrupt deviation from his overall body of work. Is that performance level the new norm, or can we expect a positive regression?

Am I biased against Smith? Objectively, the fair answer is yes. I do think Rittich is the superior option. That's not to say he is the future starting goalie for the Flames, but he is in my opinion the definitively superior option between the two.