[GT] Flames/Ducks

[GioforPM]

Sutter without Francis beside him is great.

[Steve Bozek]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

One guy who should be sitting imo is Janko. I like the guy, and I still think he has some potential, but he's an offensive black hole right now. Sit him for a game or two like Frolik and see what happens. He needs to find his mojo.

Are you basing that on tonight’s play or is this just a general comment? He’s hardly been used this period.

[The Boy Wonder]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

The Flames are playing well enough that they are able to bail out Smith in a lot of games. Assuming he hasn’t forgotten how to play his position and he’s healthy, then let’s let him work this out. I highly doubt that he can’t get his game back. Use a little more Rittich, yes, but let Smith work through this, if he can. What’s the alternative.

The people calling him garbage/trash...stay awesome guys.

Dude are you even watching the game? He is not good and now this is bad through 12 games plus the post all star game time last year... he just doesn’t have it anymore

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by soulchoice

Smith used to be a goalie they would fight for every save. Desperation. He no longer seems to do that. A strong starter/goalie will
Never give up on a shot or rebound. Sprawl, dive. Etc.

Yep. a guy who dug deep. either the low mileage 36 year old body cannot do it or he is being coahced a certain way to not react that way. Or all of the above. Whatever it is. Thats two games Ive watched smith in now where he looks like he's been ground down to peewee hockey.

[Frank MetaMusil]

I think even advanced stats back up Smith's stats. He's bad in low danger situations.

[btimbit]

It's right in the body language. Smith last year was a warrior. Good or bad he was intense and battled. Now there's no emotion

[H2SO4(aq)]

Well I was able to do all my laundry during the break. So I have that going for me, which is nice

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Steve Bozek

Are you basing that on tonight’s play or is this just a general comment? He’s hardly been used this period.

I guess just in general. Maybe I'm a little harsh on him but it's because I expect more out of him. Big kid, has offensive skill, a really good wrister. He should be putting up more points than he is, even with subpar linemates.

[GioforPM]

Good shift by the top line.

[direwolf]

Good start to the period.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

I think even advanced stats back up Smith's stats. He's bad in low danger situations.

Smith saved a low danger shot and crap rebound made it a high danger shot that he couldn’t stop. Should really count as 2 low danger goals.

[Robo]

Must be nice to have a goalie that can make a routine save

[timbit]

A lot more fight and energy to start the second.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by H2SO4(aq)

Well I was able to do all my laundry during the break. So I have that going for me, which is nice

Thanked for Carl Spackler reference

[The Boy Wonder]

On the plus side 2/12 is pretty good sv% for smith these days!

[dammage79]

Now I am curious if Smith knows there's no new contract coming from CGY and is half way out the door mentally.

[GioforPM]

Still not crisp with the passing.

[flamesforcup]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Now I am curious if Smith knows there's no new contract coming from CGY and is half way out the door mentally.

He's still gonna want another contract somewhere else and needs to perform or else he's going to Europe.

[RedHawk12]

Hiller was way worse. Smith made a couple of good saves that period. He just needs to make a clutch save and we have a chance.

Honestly I think it's best to just stick with what we have and hope for the best. If we sign a guy like Mason or even trade for a #1, we won't know how they'll fit in to the dressing room, how the team will react as a whole, how the new goalie will adjust to our system, etc. until at least 20 games. By that point it'll definitely be too late to make more changes if things don't work out.

At least right now, it looks like the team is still battling hard for Smith. I'm only speculating but they seem to still be playing hard for him and bailing him out. That means they still have faith in the guy and the room's not broken. I think team chemistry and team bonding are so important..I know that the last couple of seasons, fans have been sick of the "good guy in the room" stuff (*cough* Brouwer) but I think that mentality of having each others back and playing for each other is a big reason why we're so good with the come-backs and a big part of what made the Hartley team over-achieve.

I'm kind of ranting but there's a point in there somewhere...

[btimbit]

Czarnik playing just like I remembered. Doing lots of small things right. Really hope we see him more