[GT] Flames vs. Blues

[Prufrock]

Classic Sam Bennett. Good positioning in front of the net, reads the play, opens up for the shot, flubs it.

All I want for Christmas is for him to break out.

[oldschoolcalgary]

flames picked it up with the tkachuk goal... just need to put together 2 more periods and they should be ok

[thymebalm]

Last two PPs they blew the play dead before St Louis touched it. New rule?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Beninho

I think Rittich is the starter now I don’t know where I hinted that I didn’t think that. I’m saying if the flames just got average goaltending from smith to start the season they would have probably 3 more wins. Rittich was excellent in both games, he was just as good as Domingue was during regulation and got slightly outplayed in the shootout vs a goalie who was playing out of his skin. Seems like you aren’t a fan of Rittich and I just can’t understand why.

I am a fan of Rittich. I think he should be and is the number one. I don’t think you can start him every game and I’m not surprised that, after two losses, even where he played well, that Peters changed things.

You seem to think that not praising everything with hyperbole is denigrating Rittich. Those two games were pretty good but nowhere near his best.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Prufrock

Classic Sam Bennett. Good positioning in front of the net, reads the play, opens up for the shot, flubs it.

Imagine if all it took were switching to a different stick and suddenly he is a PPG player. Someone call Adam Oates haha.

[Torchdemall]

They come out and play anything close to their usual game and this is over before the third starts. Need to start moving their feet and winning battles.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by jg13

Mike Smith with a 10/10 F bomb.

Another one when they didn't call icing at the end of the period. "WTF WAS THAT? COME ON!"

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Just watched the highlights of the Blues two goals. I don’t doubt fir a second the team needed to play better, and I have no issue with the PP goal against, but that first one just can’t happen. Even in Smiths good games he is still spotting the opposition at least one flubber a night. Needs to be way better.

[TheScorpion]

At least Sam is getting chances. When was the last time that Neal had a grade-A scoring chance? Was it that empty net against Minnesota?

[thymebalm]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I am a fan of Rittich. I think he should be and is the number one. I don’t think you can start him every game and I’m not surprised that, after two losses, even where he played well, that Peters changed things.

You seem to think that not praising everything with hyperbole is denigrating Rittich. Those two games were pretty good but nowhere near his best.

It takes two goalies in this league. Rittich can’t start every game. Mike Smith is stuck under the microscope and can win 6 straight and we still shake our heads when he’s started over Rittich.

I think if the Flames could upgrade Smith that would be great, but he’s doing his job well enough.

[Beninho]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I am a fan of Rittich. I think he should be and is the number one. I don’t think you can start him every game and I’m not surprised that, after two losses, even where he played well, that Peters changed things.

You seem to think that not praising everything with hyperbole is denigrating Rittich. Those two games were pretty good but nowhere near his best.

My issue was that it seemed like you were hinting that the Flames needed to go back to Smith, the biggest sieve in hockey right now, because Rittich was just “fine” in his last 2 starts. When in realty the Flames put themselves in a big disadvantage with him in net besides the fact that he can play the puck well. Being an afternoon home game, it’s not surprising the flames came out flat, that’s why you don’t start Smith.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

At least Sam is getting chances. When was the last time that Neal had a grade-A scoring chance? Was it that empty net against Minnesota?

About 8 minutes into the game this afternoon. Easy to remember. One of the Flames very infrequent chances.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

It takes two goalies in this league. Rittich can’t start every game. Mike Smith is stuck under the microscope and can win 6 straight and we still shake our heads when he’s started over Rittich.

I think if the Flames could upgrade Smith that would be great, but he’s doing his job well enough.

He’ll be doing his job well enough once he plays as he has recently but also eliminates the one or more disaster goals a night. I think it’s fair to expect multiple games where he doesn’t hand the opposition a goal tgat shoukd never go in in the NHL.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

At least Sam is getting chances. When was the last time that Neal had a grade-A scoring chance? Was it that empty net against Minnesota?

He whiffed on an open net against Tampa.

[Beninho]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

It takes two goalies in this league. Rittich can’t start every game. Mike Smith is stuck under the microscope and can win 6 straight and we still shake our heads when he’s started over Rittich.

I think if the Flames could upgrade Smith that would be great, but he’s doing his job well enough.

He’s not doing his job well enough, he has an .888 save % behind a top 10 defensive team, probably top 5. His play has been nothing short of terrible.

The man still gets paid 6 million a year to stop pucks, this criticism of him is completely warranted. He’s been a joke

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

It takes two goalies in this league. Rittich can’t start every game. Mike Smith is stuck under the microscope and can win 6 straight and we still shake our heads when he’s started over Rittich.

I think if the Flames could upgrade Smith that would be great, but he’s doing his job well enough.

True, though the six straight wins doesn’t count the last start which was a no decision for him. He got lucky there.

Rittich is coming off a sub .900 game and they are playing a low ranked team. I’m very unsurprised that Smith started. He was definitely bad on the first goal. But I still say the Flames skaters also played badly leading to that goal. Smith made a couple close stops and the Flames blew chances to exit. Similarly the second goal was because of a failed clearing on the PK.

Flames have this one though - they’ve woken up.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

It takes two goalies in this league. Rittich can’t start every game. Mike Smith is stuck under the microscope and can win 6 straight and we still shake our heads when he’s started over Rittich.

I think if the Flames could upgrade Smith that would be great, but he’s doing his job well enough.

No he’s not. He has some of the worst stats in the league one of the best teams.
If Rittich hadn’t taken Smith’s Jon, I doubt we are in a playoff position as of today. That’s how bad he’s been this year.

[Jetfire]

LOL Versteeg! That was a gem of a line.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Cassie Campbell seems to have stepped up her colour commentary game. I’ve had no complaints lately.

[Yamer]

Versteeg is pretty fun to listen to. If he doesn't get a job playing again I hope he sticks around. I enjoy him during the intermissions.