Mike Smith's... woes? He blows? Eating crows? Who knows! (Also David Rittich exists!) - Page 77 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

David Struch · 03-03-2019, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

They aren’t going to do that. This is the tandem. Right or wrong

Sadly, I know.

Even if David Rittich was out and Mike Smith crapped the bed three games in a row, they probably still wouldn't start Jon Gillies.

Manhattanboy · 03-03-2019, 03:58 PM

Mike Smith is mentally weak to go along with his poor physical play.

For that reason I go with Rittich as the undisputed number one the rest of the way. The focus of the coaches should now be on getting the kid prepared for the playoffs.

stamps · 03-03-2019, 04:00 PM

Image-1.jpeg

ComixZone · 03-03-2019, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

They aren’t going to do that. This is the tandem. Right or wrong

Agreed, and it is the most disappointing aspect of the team over the last 12 months. Mike Smith’s poor to barely average range of play was entirely predictable.

If we look at the last four Stanley Cup Champion teams, it paints a picture as to why the Flames perhaps aren’t being considered a “contender” by some of the media. .922 is the lowest save percentage for a Stanley Cup winning goalie in the last four years.

Braden Holtby:
17/18 Regular Season: .907
17/18 Playoffs: .922

Matt Murray:
16/17 Regular Season: .923
16/17 Playoffs: .937

15/16 Regular Season: .930
15/16 Playoffs: .923

Corey Crawford:
14/15 Regular Season: .924
14/15 Playoffs: .924

Vs.

Mike Smith:
18/19 Regular Season: .895
18/19 Playoffs: ...

David Rittich:
18/19 Regular Season: .913
18.19 Playoffs: ...

Goaltending is a significant weakness. Hard to understand why Treliving didn’t address it either in the summer or at some point prior to the trade deadline.

It will be interesting to see what Tree does in the summer.

Textcritic · 03-03-2019, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

Mike Smith is mentally weak to go along with his poor physical play.

For that reason I go with Rittich as the undisputed number one the rest of the way. The focus of the coaches should now be on getting the kid prepared for the playoffs.

I think coaches are focused on getting both goalies as ready as possible for the playoffs. That is what they should be doing.

Strange Brew · 03-03-2019, 04:12 PM

Not sure I’d trust Gillies for the AHL playoffs right now.

Inglewood Jack · 03-03-2019, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I noticed this as early as last year when Smith was "carrying us". So many games I felt our D instead of playing their position that they're pretty damn good at started facing suicide passes while being pulled out of position.

I remember that actually, back in Dec 2017 I started a thread questioning whether Smith's style was really as beneficial as purported. the majority response at the time was yes, it was a net good thing, but even back then there were some posts that look similar to today's criticisms, e.g.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I guess what I would say is that Smith's puck handling edges towards redundant on a team with Brodie, Giordano, Kulak, Hamilton. If we had a team with worse escapability it might help, but IMO our D are so good at rolling behind the net and wheeling out of danger, that Smith giving them passes in the corners while they are stationary appears more deteimental than people are admitting.

part of the issue is likely predictability, when Smith goes into "touch every puck" mode. it's kind of like if you only have one zone entry play, the opponent will adjust pretty quick and you're not gonna get in anymore.

maybe if they could figure out a way to mix it up so that's 65%+ conventional D-man exit, with some Smith plays sprinkled in to keep forecheckers guessing. I don't know how you would be able to decide quickly enough which one to do though while under puck pressure.

David Struch · 03-03-2019, 04:39 PM

The play book on Mike Smith is out, I wouldn't be surprised to see this happen again.

Dennis Seidenberg fakes a dump in, but shoots it straight into the middle of the net, past a flopping Mike Smith for a 2 goal lead in the first.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4m4VJNr-t0

Gaskal · 03-03-2019, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

maybe if they could figure out a way to mix it up so that's 65%+ conventional D-man exit, with some Smith plays sprinkled in to keep forecheckers guessing. I don't know how you would be able to decide quickly enough which one to do though while under puck pressure.

Assuming it's a similar tactical assessment to a defenceman with the puck retreating behind his net, you count the number of forecheckers coming in either side and what direction they're angling in.

If it's a 1-2-2 he should just be staying in his damn net.

FireGilbert · 03-03-2019, 04:43 PM

Who was the poster who said Smith only needed to make like 20 saves in a row to get his SV% to .900? You jinxed him!

TheScorpion · 03-03-2019, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

Who was the poster who said Smith only needed to make like 20 saves in a row to get his SV% to .900? You jinxed him!

It was me. Welp.

For the record, he now needs to stop 100 out of his next 106 shots against to get there.

TheOnlyBilko · 03-03-2019, 04:54 PM

I felt bad for Mike Smith when he was talking about get "jeered" at home and saying it's never nice when you come home and tye fans are jeering you. I don't know jus felt bad for him after I saw the interview because he had been playing pretty good lately and had jus won 5 straight

Toonage · 03-03-2019, 04:59 PM

Seems like only 4 or 5 days ago everyone was in a blind panic that Smith hurt himself against the Islanders.

Funny how quickly things change.

Manhattanboy · 03-03-2019, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toonage

Seems like only 4 or 5 days ago everyone was in a blind panic that Smith hurt himself against the Islanders.

Funny how quickly things change.

Pro sports like a lot of things in life is very much a what have you done for me lately business.

TheScorpion · 03-03-2019, 05:14 PM

I mean, Smith getting hurt would still be disastrous. Like it or not, he's still the second-best goalie on the team, and you need two.

EldrickOnIce · 03-03-2019, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Not based on every interview Peters have given where he talks about "not touching the goaltending" and "letting Siggy decide".

Seems to me Sigalet has been given full autonomy outside of those goalie pull moments in-game.

Making #### up does not make it true anywhere, except in your own head.
It is so bad now that when you post stats, I do not believe them. I fully expect that you would make up numbers to fit your narrative - much like the #### you fabricated above. It would be excellent if you did this less. Or not at all.

flames_fan_down_under · 03-03-2019, 05:21 PM

OK so according to Hockey Reference for this current season the 'NHL League Average Save Percentage' is .909.

Mike Smith has played in 34 games (started 32), his current save percentage is .895% which puts him 34th out of 37 NHL goalies with a minimum of 30 games played.

When Mikes Smith plays he has posted a save percentage below the league average (.909%) 20 times. Meaning that 59% of the time Mike Smith plays he has performed worse than the entire average of his NHL counterparts.

The team in front of him allows around 26 shots per game when he plays. The league average of SA/G is 31.3. So the Flames are allowing about 5 shots per game less a game than the entire league yet Smith still cannot reach league average results with a significantly reduced workload compared to his NHL counterparts.

I personally cannot wait until I don't have to see him start in net for the Flames again.

Manhattanboy · 03-03-2019, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I mean, Smith getting hurt would still be disastrous. Like it or not, he's still the second-best goalie on the team, and you need two.

I would say injuries to ten other players on the Flames would rank ahead of Smith on the disaster scale. Anyway...

TheScorpion · 03-03-2019, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

I would say injuries to ten other players on the Flames would rank ahead of Smith on the disaster scale. Anyway...

That's debatable. The Flames have a ton of depth at every position except goal. While injuries to Gaudreau and Monahan would obviously hurt the team immensely, a Smith injury means prolonged tenure with the big club for the likes of Jon Gillies or Tyler Parsons. I don't think anybody wants that.

Manhattanboy · 03-03-2019, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

That's debatable. The Flames have a ton of depth at every position except goal. While injuries to Gaudreau and Monahan would obviously hurt the team immensely, a Smith injury means prolonged tenure with the big club for the likes of Jon Gillies or Tyler Parsons. I don't think anybody wants that.

You may be right. Hopefully we have seen the last of bad Mike Smith.