[PGT] Flames lose 4-3

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

I think I would agree if it was a bang bang play. It wasn't, it went on for a bit before the Caps scored. So no, I don't believe he was totally at fault for that one.

The 3rd goal.....yikes. He has to stop that.

The winning goal was on a Backlund penalty and a great shot top shelf.

I do not believe he cost the team the win.

They lost by one goal though...one softy is costing the team the game. And he would have hand an assist on the first goal so, yeah that is largely on him as well IMO

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by dino7c

They lost by one goal though...one softy is costing the team the game. And he would have hand an assist on the first goal so, yeah that is largely on him as well IMO

5v5 scoring was 3-3 with expected goals in favour of Washington 55-45. Smith wasn't great, but on a whole he was adequate enough for this particular team to have won. He actually had the higher SV% at 5v5.

On the other hand
PP scoring
Flames 0-2 (0/5 PP shots
Capitals 1-4 (1/10 PP shots)

That was the difference in the game.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by dino7c

They lost by one goal though...one softy is costing the team the game. And he would have hand an assist on the first goal so, yeah that is largely on him as well IMO

I get what you're saying, but when I see anyone say he 'cost' the team the game I usually equate that to the team playing well and Smith the only reason the lost. Which wasn't the case tonight. Even on the terrible 3rd goal Chucky should have had that puck out easily, but he had a brain cramp. That play should have never happened to begin with. On the 4th goal that's a penalty Backlund can't take. And the team in general just didn't play great.

Was the 3rd goal a factor in the loss? Yes.
Was he the only reason they lost? No.
Do I hope BT can upgrade the position somehow before the trade deadline? Yes.

[Flames fan 4 life]

Originally Posted by Pizza

I just rewound the game on my PVR it to the 3rd goal.

Tkachuck blocked the view on Wilson's body but Smith had full view of the puck on Wilson's stick so there was no screen on the shot

Poor quality still, but you'll see Smith had a good view of the puck before Wilson's shot:



and heres when the puck leaves Wilson's stick:



There was zero screen

It looks like Smith is deep in the net again. An adjustment he has to make as he needs to realize with smaller equipment and probable slower reflexes he misses the puck or it goes through him

[Strange Brew]

I still think it’s odd not to play your starter against an excellent team when both goalies are equally rested. There are plenty of weeks where Flames play 3 games or more and you can work Smith in to give Rittich a break.

Maybe Rittich still healing from something. But I also feel this team wants to give Smith every opportunity possible to return to form as they know Rittich is not yet a sure thing.

IMO Treliving wants more than anything to be able to run with these two goalies for the playoffs. The organization is light on draft picks and prospects not in the NHL. Giving some of these up for a backup goalie rental would sting.

Of course watching Smith start playoff games would sting a whole lot too.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

No, it's our thing.

La cosa nostra...

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I still think it’s odd not to play your starter against an excellent team when both goalies are equally rested. There are plenty of weeks where Flames play 3 games or more and you can work Smith in to give Rittich a break.

Maybe Rittich still healing from something. But I also feel this team wants to give Smith every opportunity possible to return to form as they know Rittich is not yet a sure thing.

IMO Treliving wants more than anything to be able to run with these two goalies for the playoffs. The organization is light on draft picks and prospects not in the NHL. Giving some of these up for a backup goalie rental would sting.

Of course watching Smith start playoff games would sting a whole lot too.

IMO I think Peters decided Smith had to start one of these first two games after the break. After these two there's a stretch of a lot of games where there's a day or two off in between so Rittich will be seeing a lot of games. So it was either today or Sunday. I'm wondering if saving Rittich for his old club, one that gave the Flames all sorts of fits last time they played, played a role in his decision. Give Smith the start against an Ovi-less Caps team and hope for the best, then save his starter for his return to Carolina and try his best to win that one. Just my guess.

[AC]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

I'm wondering if saving Rittich for his old club, one that gave the Flames all sorts of fits last time they played, played a role in his decision.

Who?

[Redrum]

I guess he means Peters' old club.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by AC

Who?

Bill Peters' old club, Carolina Hurricanes.

[AC]

Ah, that makes much more sense. Thanks!

[zamler]

Originally Posted by Flames fan 4 life

It looks like Smith is deep in the net again. An adjustment he has to make as he needs to realize with smaller equipment and probable slower reflexes he misses the puck or it goes through him

Smith has to play deep in his crease he's too slow to play any other style.

[gonzo29]

Was in the building for this one. Not a lot of enthusiasm from the home crowd until after the final buzzer, which was a bit disappointing as I usually enjoy some good natured back and forth with the other teams fans.

- I thought the Flames needed to grind out some more offensive zone shifts below the hashmarks. I definitely get the comments about the Flames lacking a physical edge compared to the Caps in this one.

- On Smith playing deep in his net: It's a big reason why he seems to get beat clean by a clear shot at least once per game, I don't see it as something he can fix though as his lateral movement just isn't there anymore to be able to come out and challenge shooters. If they make a cross ice pass he won't have a chance. I don't really see a way forward for him to improve in light of this...

Hoping for a sharper game out of everyone on Sunday.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I think Smith started because of his ability to handle the puck. Playing a heavy team like Washington - especially on the heels of a 7 game winless streak - Peters rightfully expected Washington to come out physical. I understand the gamble. Smith wasn't great, but he wasn't bad enough to cost the game either. For sure a better goalie would have at least taken it to OT, but it isn't like Smith played like garbage either. It was a gamble probably designed to reduce the dump-ins on Calgary against a very physical team.


It will be interesting to see what Treliving does at the deadline. I do think that the lack of physicality is going to prove problematic for the Flames during the playoffs - some series are just so physically demanding, and bigger, stronger teams can do a whole lot to counter soft but skilled teams. Adding a bit of size WITH skill can make just enough of a difference during a tough playoff series.


Either way, close game with bad officiating. An 'arguable' weak goal by Smith. This was against a very hungry and desperate reigning Stanley Cup champs team working even extra hard with their star player out. Caps came to play, and every team right now knows that the best way to play the Flames is to play them physical at every opportunity. That's what they did, and that was at least part of why they won the game tonight.


Onto the next game.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

When Smith allows 2 goals or fewer or stops over 90% of his shots then come talk to me about how he didn't cost the team a win.

Even one bad goal can be the difference. You can be average the other 59:59, but the one lapse made the difference.

Even good goalies let in bad goals sometimes.


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[jayswin]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Even good goalies let in bad goals sometimes.


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Whhhhatttttt??!!

Are people just trolling in defense of Smith tonight?

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Whhhhatttttt??!!



Are people just trolling in defense of Smith tonight?

I’m not saying Smith is good, but just because he lets in a bad goal doesn’t mean that a good goalie would have automatically stopped that one, and made every other save Smith did.


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[dino7c]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Even good goalies let in bad goals sometimes.


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bad ones let in bad goals all the time...like Smith, who allows a bad goal in almost every game

[nik-]

Originally Posted by dino7c

bad ones let in bad goals all the time...like Smith, who allows a bad goal in almost every game

we can at least admire his consistency

[Swifty16]

Originally Posted by dieHARDflameZ

Oh and how that Niskanen slash on Tkachuk didn’t get called is laughable, that is a penalty all day.

And the interference in the first by Niskanen on Tkachuk was also missed. Should have been an easy call!!!!! Laid out MT before he could even get near the puck!!