Mike Smith's... woes? He blows? Eating crows? Who knows! (Also David Rittich exists!)

[Kybb79]

Originally Posted by Angelino

Please don’t denigrate AHL goaltending quality with this comment. Thank you!

If Smith did his job this team would be right there with Tampa.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

How do you 'retire' a goalie?

And he's not going to Stockton.

How did Feaster retire Craig Conroy?

[Angelino]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

How did Feaster retire Craig Conroy?

I think some sort of equipment allergy has to take place. At this point I have only noticed Smith being allergic to the puck, so I don’t think that counts.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Angelino

I think some sort of equipment allergy has to take place. At this point I have only noticed Smith being allergic to the puck, so I don’t think that counts.

Hmmm. Or... does it?

[ricardodw]

The most games that Rittich has played in a season in his North American career is 36 in 2016-17 31 with Stockton 1 with the Flames and 4 playoff games with Stockton.

This year he is at 30 games with no consecutive bad starts.

Rather than mismanaging Smith the Flames have gotten a great season out of Rittich.

The Flames brain thrust obviously has BSD on a game count so that he he has the best chance to perform his best in the playoffs.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

The most games that Rittich has played in a season in his North American career is 36 in 2016-17 31 with Stockton 1 with the Flames and 4 playoff games with Stockton.

This year he is at 30 games with no consecutive bad starts.

Rather than mismanaging Smith the Flames have gotten a great season out of Rittich.

The Flames brain thrust obviously has BSD on a game count so that he he has the best chance to perform his best in the playoffs.

Yep, challenge the flames have if Rittich hits a wall and starts to struggle (i.e. played to many games)

Can Smith regain his form....

[memphusk]

Balderdash. It was a mistake to not play Rittich right out of the break. A blind donkey could see that Smith was going to let in at least one bad goal last night. Coach made a mistake and it cost them.

[Toonage]

Agreed. Unless he's still nursing an injury Rittich should have had the start. Game count? Sure. But we're coming off a 10 day break. Hit the ground running with your best shot at winning.

[icecube]

If Smith was going to regain his form he would have done it by now. He's looked good at times but the big saves he's made have been far, far outweighed by the gaffes and softies.

The only thing I worry about in replacing him this season is if he's liked in the locker room and if it would affect chemistry.

None of us are in the room so who knows? Coaching and management would likely have their pulse on that. They know as well as we do that he hasn't been good enough.

Are they willing to risk losing the top seed in the west over his poor play?

[troutman]

One rationale I heard for his start in WAS was his stickhandking would neutralize the Caps forecheck.

His giveaways led to two goals.

[icecube]

He's gone by the end of the week IMO.

[Geeoff]

Imagine if Kipper and Turek split starts down the stretch. 2004 team doesn't even make the playoffs.

[Iggy Snipe]

Smith will only play in back to back game situations from here on out, unless for some reason Rittich falls apart, but i really don't see that happening. He has been consistent all year, which is all you can ask from a goalie.

[AC]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

Imagine if Kipper and Turek split starts down the stretch. 2004 team doesn't even make the playoffs.

In 2004 the final 31 games of the season saw:
McLennan x 2
Turek
Kiprusoff
Turek
Kiprusoff x 3
Turek
Kiprusoff x 5
Turek
Kiprusoff x 5
Turek
Kiprusoff x 4
Turek
Kiprusoff x 4
Turek

So including McLennan who was traded it was a 22 to 9 split, which is about what I'd expect Rittich and Smith to get the rest of the way now.

[memphusk]

Yikes. Would hope to only see him 5 times at the most again. Peter's will probably choose to play him at the Iginla game because I have tickets. Yuck.

[Hey Connor, It's Mess]

It sucks that Smith sucks.

[Locke]

Chalk up more points to be laid at Smith's feet.

Smith is unfortunately forcing Treliving's hand this close to the Trade Deadline.

Peters should probably hand him a little less rope, for his own sake.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by memphusk

Balderdash. It was a mistake to not play Rittich right out of the break. A blind donkey could see that Smith was going to let in at least one bad goal last night. Coach made a mistake and it cost them.

Settle down. Try to think of Coming out of a ten day break like back to backs. They might beat Washington with Rittich, they might not. They definitely should beat Carolina with him.

By starting Smith, they go with the guy who will likely get the greater emotional boost playing in this game.

They lost. They didn't get embarrassed. It's fine.

If I was GM, I would be doing everything possible to acquire Ryan Miller.

They have to manage Rittich's minutes down the stretch. Smith is going to get into games. I wish he didn't, but they can't and shouldn't Dubnyk him and start him the last 40 games.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by troutman

One rationale I heard for his start in WAS was his stickhandking would neutralize the Caps forecheck.

His giveaways led to two goals.

But at least none of our D got hurt!

Wait...

[AC]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

But at least none of our D got hurt!

Wait...

Sure, but Hamonic getting hurt wasn't because of a Smith puck-handling play. It was immediately after the blown interference on Tkachuk.

Kinda like Backlund getting concussed following the non-call on his empty net haul down vs Minnesota...