[PGT] Flames barbecue the Wings 6-4

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The team has been sloppy defensively of late for sure and that includes the top pairing. That said this game was a pretty typical Smith outing. Some really good saves mixed in with some goals let in that plenty of NHL goaltenders routinely stop.

I'm really at the point with Smith where if they win when he starts it's a bonus. Not going to even bother overly critiquing his play as this is what you are going to get from him every night now. I'm just happy the team overcame the stoppable goals surrendered to their opponent. Long term this is not a recipe for success but in the mean time as long as they win I'm happy.

Fortunately for you the Flames usually win when Smith starts.

I thought he was okay. I didn’t like the first goal, but it is difficult to be too critical of the goalie defending against a long 5v3. I thought he looked really good in the first period leading up to the goal.

What I think is clear is that this is how the Flames will play out the season and enter the playoffs—David Rittich will get most of the starts, and Mike Smith will play every third or fourth game. It has worked exceptionally well through nearly 50 games so far. I don’t see much incentive for management to make changes.


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[3thirty]

Originally Posted by Flaming Homer

Has Lanny ever weighed in on Bennett’s tribute stache? I’d imagine he loves it. But I’d be curious if he’s been asked about it yet. Benny better keep that on for the rest of the season!!!

probably already posted but...

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/hair...on/c-303961306

[TheScorpion]

It's funny -- I was looking at the Flames' recent numbers for today's GDT, and Smith actually has better numbers lately (9-2-0, .912) than Rittich (9-1-3, .911). That's probably due in part to schedule sheltering, but those are more than fine numbers from a regular backup.

Smith has improved. He might not always look good -- visually, he's still far too shaky for my liking -- but results are results, and when the team is winning, who are we to complain, really?

[Flash Walken]

Last night was prime Bennett usage IMO.

Saw time with all three bottom lines depending on the situation. Wasn't utilized on the PP as much of a distributor, more just swooping around the offensive zone faceoff circles looking to pressure or clean up garbage.

I like Bennett getting the occasional shift with Tkachuk.

The emotional beacon hathaway/bennett/tkachuk/hamonic bring occasionally needs to be lit by one of the others and I feel like that's the biggest contribution Bennett makes when playing with Tkachuk, helps light his fire.

When he's going, give him spot duty through the lineup.

You can win with Mike Smith, you just need to score 4+ goals per game. If the flames can add another scorer to solidy having the most potent top 6 group in the league, you could win a cup with Smith in net.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by steveo

If I'm thinking correctly it was Mantha who he grabbed and started giving those jersey jabs to. Then Bennett started chirping him (might be some wishful thinking but I think it had to do w them remembering the Hamonic thing)

I think you're right, and on the next couple of possessions you could hear Bennett inviting anyone on that detroit bench to have a little dance. No takers.

"Fights out there if you want it"

"any time you want"

Good ####.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

What I think is clear is that this is how the Flames will play out the season and enter the playoffs—David Rittich will get most of the starts, and Mike Smith will play every third or fourth game. It has worked exceptionally well through nearly 50 games so far. I don’t see much incentive for management to make changes.

Do you have any confidence in Smith winning a game where the Flames don't score 4+ goals? You don't see any reason why a team with Stanley Cup aspirations might want an upgrade on the worst backup in the NHL?

I doubt they do anything until closer to the deadline when teams like Carolina might be out of the race. But if Treliving isn't looking to upgrade the backukp position, he isn't doing his job.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Fortunately for you the Flames usually win when Smith starts.

I thought he was okay. I didn’t like the first goal, but it is difficult to be too critical of the goalie defending against a long 5v3. I thought he looked really good in the first period leading up to the goal.

What I think is clear is that this is how the Flames will play out the season and enter the playoffs—David Rittich will get most of the starts, and Mike Smith will play every third or fourth game. It has worked exceptionally well through nearly 50 games so far. I don’t see much incentive for management to make changes.


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10-2 in his last 12 decisions.

Team has scored an average of 4.8 goals in each of those games.

2.6 goals of support are what he has need on average in those games.

This season they have needed an average of 3 goals a game support overall.

Mike Smith has been less than stellar this season at times, and everybody already knows that.

What he is doing as a backup with this club the last 2 months though? More than adequate.

The way way way over the top hatred directed at him is simply absurd.

If he can be upgraded on, then they should do so. They should do that with every single player on the roster though.

[Bingo]

Game Takes:
Flames 6 Wings 4

- Smith with the win
- 2nd PP unit carries the team
- another quiet top line night
- home stand over at 4-0-1

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Do you have any confidence in Smith winning a game where the Flames don't score 4+ goals? You don't see any reason why a team with Stanley Cup aspirations might want an upgrade on the worst backup in the NHL?

I doubt they do anything until closer to the deadline when teams like Carolina might be out of the race. But if Treliving isn't looking to upgrade the backukp position, he isn't doing his job.

That has been a requirement in 4 games since the middle of November.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Last night was prime Bennett usage IMO.

Saw time with all three bottom lines depending on the situation. Wasn't utilized on the PP as much of a distributor, more just swooping around the offensive zone faceoff circles looking to pressure or clean up garbage.

I like Bennett getting the occasional shift with Tkachuk.

The emotional beacon hathaway/bennett/tkachuk/hamonic bring occasionally needs to be lit by one of the others and I feel like that's the biggest contribution Bennett makes when playing with Tkachuk, helps light his fire.

When he's going, give him spot duty through the lineup.

You can win with Mike Smith, you just need to score 4+ goals per game. If the flames can add another scorer to solidy having the most potent top 6 group in the league, you could win a cup with Smith in net.

re: bolded.

It was Bennett's quick pass from the halfwall to Andersson that set up the point shot that became his first goal.
It was also Bennett's pass from around the halfwall/goalline to Andersson that set up the point shot that became Neal's goal. I believe the entry on that goal also came on Bennett's stick right through the middle.
Bennett was also the guy who got Ryan the puck initially on the breakout on his second goal.
To add, he had a pretty good near-assist to Hanifin where the goalie robbed 55.

I'd argue that's the most distributing Bennett has been expected to do all season compared to the netfront role he was playing earlier where Backlund was in a distribution role. He got a lot more actual touches without Backlund cannibalizing his role. Touches through the middle and on the wall, not just board battles on the wings and behind the net.

[Zulu29]

I didn’t think Smith was that bad lastnight, some tips and screenings that are hard for anyone to stop, he’d like that one where he got a piece of it back I’m sure. He’s playing better now than he was at the start of the season but I’m still never comfortable watching him take shots. That all said, I’d rather get an upgrade on forward than another goalie as we’ve demonstrated we can win with Smith. An upgrade on forward would make us lethal.

[LWcrowfoot]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Fortunately for you the Flames usually win when Smith starts.

Fortunately for all of us this team has the ability to easily score 5+ goals a game, because that what it takes to get Smith that W.

I don’t see much incentive for management to make changes.

Hopefully management doesn't bury their head in the sand like you're doing. Smith's GAA of over three and save percentage of .888 is incentive enough.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by LWcrowfoot

Fortunately for all of us this team has the ability to easily score 5+ goals a game, because that what it takes to get Smith that W.

No.

[LWcrowfoot]

Originally Posted by transplant99

No.

Yes.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by transplant99

10-2 in his last 12 decisions.

Team has scored an average of 4.8 goals in each of those games.

2.6 goals of support are what he has need on average in those games.

This season they have needed an average of 3 goals a game support overall.

Mike Smith has been less than stellar this season at times, and everybody already knows that.

What he is doing as a backup with this club the last 2 months though? More than adequate.

The way way way over the top hatred directed at him is simply absurd.

If he can be upgraded on, then they should do so. They should do that with every single player on the roster though.

I don't want to get in a long winded Smith debate but his .888 SV% ranks 49 out of 50 eligible NHL goaltenders. That's just a horrible, horrible stat for any goaltender that's played 20+ games. You just can't sugar coat it. He's not a very good NHL goaltender anymore. I don't care about his puck handling or the fact he may be a good guy as to me he deserves to be judged exclusively on his play and nothing more and IMO he's one of the worst goaltenders in the NHL.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by LWcrowfoot

Yes.

The math is a few posts above if you are wanting to actually know it.

[LWcrowfoot]

The Flames have a legitimate shot at the cup this season but they need a significant upgrade on the back up goalie to do it. Adequate just isn't going to cut it. Plenty of interesting options out there, all better than Smith who has been "adequate". Happy for those that think Smith's numbers, even since November, are acceptable for a contending team, but I don't.

Rittich is far and away the least proven goalie of all the top teams. Wanting another backup is also a worry about his game. If Rittich falters in anyway the idea of Mike Smith coming in to carry the load if frightening.

[TheScorpion]

It's fine to want another solid goalie - I do too. But the arguments claiming that Smith's numbers are unacceptable... they're the definition of disingenuous.

One of these goalies is Mike Smith. One is David Rittich. Here are their recent records.

a) 9-2-0, .912 SV%
b) 9-1-3, .911 SV%

Both of those stat-lines are above-average this season. Neither is exceptional, but with this offense, they're getting the job done.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by LWcrowfoot

The Flames have a legitimate shot at the cup this season but they need a significant upgrade on the back up goalie to do it. Adequate just isn't going to cut it. Plenty of interesting options out there, all better than Smith who has been "adequate". Happy for those that think Smith's numbers, even since November, are acceptable for a contending team, but I don't.

Rittich is far and away the least proven goalie of all the top teams. Wanting another backup is also a worry about his game. If Rittich falters in anyway the idea of Mike Smith coming in to carry the load if frightening.

Mike Smith is 12th in wins since December 1. 21st in GAA of goaltenders who have played at least 8 games, and 38th in SV%.

In short, he’s putting up numbers that are respectable for any backup. It’s nice you think the numbers are not acceptable for a contending team, but it which available backups do you think are an upgrade?

Of the available upgrades, all of them are very close statistically to Smith in that time.

In that same time frame, Calgary is 13th in GA. Tampa is 10th with 2 less goals allowed, Nashville and Winnipeg have allowed 10 less goals.

I’m all for upgrading Smith if you can do it for cheap. Why not? But the statement that he’s not an acceptable backup for a contending team is wrong. If anything, our goaltending situation as a whole is less than ideal for a contending team as Rittich has not been a top guy since November. But that’s on both guys. Saying we need to replace Smith because of Smith means you have blinders on. We should upgrade Smith because Rittich isn’t a surefire option. Contending teams have a surefire option.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by LWcrowfoot

Fortunately for all of us this team has the ability to easily score 5+ goals a game, because that what it takes to get Smith that W.

Hopefully management doesn't bury their head in the sand like you're doing. Smith's GAA of over three and save percentage of .888 is incentive enough.

Two Smith games ago 2 goals would have won it, since he only let in one. Of course, the Flames scored 7 but that's irrelevant.

It's not like the Flames bailed him out last night. The skaters were equally at fault on every goal except the 5 on 3, IMO. Did they score enough to win? Yes. Did he save enough to win? Yes.

Are there better backup goalies out there than Smith? Sure. Are they available? Doubtful, and the incremental improvement might not be worth the value asked anyway.