[GDT] Flames vs Stars, 7:00 MST. Sportsnet One, Fan 960

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Wills is often wrong about many things.

Can’t stand Wills. He has zero objectivity. His post game takes when I’m
Driving home sometimes makes me wonder if he’s ever played a game of hockey or blatantly doesn’t care if it’s obvious he’s a CSEC puppet.

I remember when he went on the morning show one time last year and Boomer said something along the they wouldn’t be following Wills sunshine and lollipop takes.

[timbit]

With the 3 or 4 major injuries the Stars have on D, including Klingberg, it is imperative the Flames play a hard and fast game. Start to finish.
Huge 2 points in a very tight division and conference.

That said, very very impressed with 19 year old, 2017 3rd overall D pick, Heiskanen. He has phenomenal skill, IQ and upside.

[Jimdon]

Obviously it's in the flames best interest to have both goalies getting starts and performing well, but anyone who thinks there's more value in investing time in a soon to be 37 year old goalie hoping he regians his form than there is in investing time to see if your up and coming goalie who's passed him is ready to be your starter is delusional.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

Wills mentions things that others might not be aware of, being closer to the team. I understand someone not liking him doing radio PBP, but his talks on F960 are very good.

For example, he elaborated on how differently the practices were between the Coyotes and the Flames, having sat in on both. The Coyotes were disorganized, had poor execution and players looked a little out of it. In contrast, the Flames practice was fast paced, crisp, and intense to the point that Peters had to stop the session early for fear of injuries.

You practice how you play. I am extremely happy to find out that Peters runs his practices like Hartley's or Tortorella's.

I remember that segment. It was very informative and interesting to hear. Last week he was talking about Smith working hard to get back to form. And while he was working hard, Wills noticed that goals were still leaking in between his arms and other areas that had equipment reductions. Figured Smith was having trouble adjusting to the equipment like other veteran goalies were. I thought that was interesting and pretty much confirmed what we were all seeing.

Either way, like his PBP or not it's good to have some information from someone who is directly in contact with the team.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

I remember that segment. It was very informative and interesting to hear. Last week he was talking about Smith working hard to get back to form. And while he was working hard, Wills noticed that goals were still leaking in between his arms and other areas that had equipment reductions. Figured Smith was having trouble adjusting to the equipment like other veteran goalies were. I thought that was interesting and pretty much confirmed what we were all seeing.

Either way, like his PBP or not it's good to have some information from someone who is directly in contact with the team.

My take of PBP guys is that they are usually optimists. This is likely because a cynic or a downer would hate their job. Following a team around, and closely watching every game would be unbearable for some. You would almost have to be an Optimist to be able to survive a season let alone not sound like a salty whiner all game long. Moreover you travel with the team, so #### talking players makes for an awkward situation.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Jimdon

Obviously it's in the flames best interest to have both goalies getting starts and performing well, but anyone who thinks there's more value in investing time in a soon to be 37 year old goalie hoping he regians his form than there is in investing time to see if your up and coming goalie who's passed him is ready to be your starter is delusional.

That's an odd way to put it, and it certainly enhances your point. On the whole, I completely agree that the Flames's priority is to continue developing David Rittich, and am quite convinced that Mike Smith is playing his last season in Calgary. But "investing time" is not really what is happening. The Flames have two goalies, and both of them will likely come close to splitting the rest of the games this season. It is not "delusional" to expect this to happen.

[LWcrowfoot]

They shouldn't be splitting the rest of the games this season. Rittich should be starting the majority.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by LWcrowfoot

They shouldn't be splitting the rest of the games this season. Rittich should be starting the majority.

We will see what happens, but I suspect Rittich will not get anywhere close to the 55-game mark this season.

[Kasi]

To everyone complaining about Smith (and he’s not been good) if you ride Rittich too hard he will break down. He’s not had anywhere close to a number one workload over a full season. Then you’ll have 2 crappy goaltenders. 60/40 in favor of Rittich is about as far as I’d push the starts on his favor.

[LWcrowfoot]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

We will see what happens, but I suspect Rittich will not get anywhere close to the 55-game mark this season.

58 games left in the season. Splitting those games would see Rittich finish with 41 starts. If Rittich sees a starters role (Three Starts to Smith's one) that will put him at 55 games. Even splitting them into thirds (Two starts for Dave, one start for Smith) sees Big Save Dave hit 50 starts.

What's your definition of "not anywhere close"?

[Robbob]

Whether you use the STL or the PIT game as the point in which the team has wavered on Smith as the number one, tonight Rittich passes Smith for starts in that time frame.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

We will see what happens, but I suspect Rittich will not get anywhere close to the 55-game mark this season.

If Smith doesn't play any better, are you still content giving him 40ish games?

I guess you could argue Flames are on a 99 point pace with the goaltending they have received thus far. Even if Rittich cools off a little, you should win more just by virtue of him playing more often I guess.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

No. The Flames should have their eye on playing deep in the playoffs, and with the goalies they have on the roster this means managing their starts all the way into the stretch-drive. There is a real danger that the Flames ride Rittich and he falters, and a real chance that a rusty and deflated Smith is not in a position to pick up the mantle.


You could not be more wrong about this. Like I said above, this is a reactionary panic-play with no view to how long the season is, nor how dramatically things can change from one week to the next. I expect the coaches will select their starter on the basis of who looks best ready to win, and with a view to how best to keep them both on top of their games. Not based on some knee-jerk fear about who is most likely to fail.

There is no point whatsoever in managing starts when you're essentially tossing points into the trash can by putting Smith in the net more often than naught - playoffs won't be an issue and starting Smith again tonight simply because he didn't look bad against the doormat Coyotes would be exactly the knee jerk reaction you are preaching against.

I too suspect the coaching staff will make the right choice and choose the goalie best suited to get the win - Rittich. They certainly wouldn't be so easily blinded by a poor sample last game that they would go back to Smith after he has single handidly cost this team several points already this year. Nevertheless, fear mongering that Rittich cannot handle playing a 1A type workload this season is baseless and quite odd considering you'd only be talking about a modest 20 game increase on his starts over the last 2 seasons and would be spread out over several months. He even started 48 of 50 games for his Czech league team three years ago so 55 ish starts would not be outlandish for the him in any way.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

If Smith doesn't play any better, are you still content giving him 40ish games?

I guess you could argue Flames are on a 99 point pace with the goaltending they have received thus far. Even if Rittich cools off a little, you should win more just by virtue of him playing more often I guess.

That is assuming Smith will never regain any form resembling an NHL goalie. Best case scenario is Smith regains his mojo and you have a Nashville-esque goal tending tandem.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by LWcrowfoot

58 games left in the season. Splitting those games would see Rittich finish with 41 starts. If Rittich sees a starters role (Three Starts to Smith's one) that will put him at 55 games. Even splitting them into thirds (Two starts for Dave, one start for Smith) sees Big Save Dave hit 50 starts.

What's your definition of "not anywhere close"?

My high-water mark is 50-games, and if Rittich is close to that then we should be ecstatic as Flames fans. That would be the highest number of games he has played in ANY league over the course of his entire career. David Rittich has not even played as many as 35-games in either of his AHL seasons. Expecting much more than 40–45 games from him at the highest level of hockey in the world is an extremely tall order. I think he will get there, but am sceptical it happens this year.

[stemit14]

Very happy that Rittich is starting tonight. This Dallas team has given the flames fits over the last couple years so the team needs every boost of confidence they can get. Need to play extremely fast tonight to pressure the Dallas defender that is missing some key pieces. I’ve watched a couple Dallas games this year and they typically like to play a type of game where they slow the pace down.

Flames win 5-2. Gaudreau with 3 assists tonight. Goals from Monahan, Lindholm, Bennett, Gio, and Jankowski.




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[MissTeeks]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1067878296421974016

[goflamesgo18]

Originally Posted by Kasi

To everyone complaining about Smith (and he’s not been good) if you ride Rittich too hard he will break down. He’s not had anywhere close to a number one workload over a full season. Then you’ll have 2 crappy goaltenders. 60/40 in favor of Rittich is about as far as I’d push the starts on his favor.

Kind of reminds me of the Turek/Kipper Duo when we aquired Kipper.

He had no starting experience and took the ball and ran with it. Dont just assume that a professional athlete will break down just because.

Give him the opportunity to continue proving hes a number one.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

If Smith doesn't play any better, are you still content giving him 40ish games?

I guess you could argue Flames are on a 99 point pace with the goaltending they have received thus far. Even if Rittich cools off a little, you should win more just by virtue of him playing more often I guess.

In response to your question, of course not. My discussion points are contingent upon the belief that Mike Smith is better than he has shown through the first quarter of the season. He looked just fine on Sunday, and I expect he can still win at least half his games, and with a reduced workload can provide +.905 goaltending.

To my line of thinking the Flames land in a division playoff spot with the level of goaltending they have received to date. If Smith is even a little better, they will probably win the Pacific.

[Steveyoto]

I am glad it is Rittich. In my opinion he needs to be our clear cut #1 by the end of season. I would like it if that was very clear by Christmas time. I am not a fan of Smith, I hate how he plays the puck, I would wager that he gives up more chances than he creates. I hate how he can barely control a rebound, I don't like how bad his temper is and mostly I do not like how he has stopped pucks this year.