Mike Smith's... woes? He blows? Eating crows? Who knows! (Also David Rittich exists!)

[David Struch]

Smith has played better of late. I won't argue that. Still, his season as a whole has not been good and there's never been a point where he'd make anyone believe otherwise for more than a week or two. I don't understand why he continues to get trotted out in big games.

Last night was particularly frustrating. The Flames were the better team and they still lost by a pair thanks to blunders from Smith.

The opening goal in the 3rd was completely inexcusable. There's no defense you can make for Smith. He is paid millions of dollars to guard the net and he legitimately left it entirely exposed for 10 seconds. Ridiculous.

It's not like this is anything new, either. Almost exactly a week ago Smith gave a goal away because he left the net. He has done it numerous times before, too.

Making matters worse last night was the goal Smith soon after allowed to Ryan Donato. Was it a hard shot? Sure, but Smith shouldn't be beaten from that distance on an unscreened shot where he was fully set and able to challenge.

https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Todd...stly/202/98110

[David Struch]

Mike Smith pretty much singlehandedly ruined Jarome Iginla’s night.

Contributor Bill Tran was the first one I saw say “I will NEVER forgive Smith for this” and it summed up my feelings on the matter perfectly. I have spent this season frustrated with him, but at the same time, fully understanding the situation: Smith is set in his ways and his performance is declining with age. It’s going to happen. He would singlehandedly cost the Flames points but they were in a good position all season and this wasn’t supposed to be their year, anyway, so it was fine.

This was not fine. This was not any other night. This is not forgivable. I got into hockey because of Iginla and everything he was able to do for this franchise, drag the team forward, make them relevant again. This was a night specifically for honouring him. That didn’t mean the Flames had to win this night for it to be a success – they just had to play a good game.

A couple of defensive miscues aside – which happen literally every single game – they did. The skaters wanted this. They were ready. They were trying so hard to score. The crowd was emotional and they fed off of it. They dominated the Wild. They were the better team, by far.

And sometimes the better team doesn’t win, and that’s okay.

But it’s not okay when this is how it unfolds. A selfish player committed a selfish action and it was the beginning of the end for the possibility of a win. As the season has gone on I’ve increasingly rolled my eyes at some of Smith’s play, but I never got genuinely furious. I got angry, sure, but it’d be gone within the hour. This one… this night… this isn’t going away.

The next time I see Smith playing for the Flames will be too soon.

https://flamesnation.ca/2019/03/03/w...nks-other-guy/

[AC]

Yikes, that's a childish article.

[Freeway]

To me, Mike Smith is David Justice in Moneyball. There's value in him in specific circumstances, and it's incumbent on Flames management/coaches to squeeze it out of him.

[Kasi]

Yeah I’ve started tuning out Ari’s articles over there. Doesn’t bring a lot of insight and even when someone in the “doghouse” has a great game she doesn’t give any credit to the performance.

Plus all the sb nation sites are horrible now with how often they redirect you to Ad sites. Makes them almost unusable.

[Table 5]

My issue with Smith’s comments is that what he did was not a mistake. It may have been a mistake to go behind the net...but, hanging around and arrogantly trying to play defenseman? That was no mistake, that was just a pig-headed play by a guy who thinks he knows better.

At least Rittich looks like he is evolving, and has been playing it safe since his goofs outside of the crease. Smith doesn’t learn from his “mistakes”. He goes out and does the same thing game after game..and then brushes it off as a team error.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

That FlamesNation article is embarrassing.

[neo45]

Originally Posted by Freeway

To me, Mike Smith is David Justice in Moneyball. There's value in him in specific circumstances, and it's incumbent on Flames management/coaches to squeeze it out of him.

Why can’t “specific circumstances” just be the second half of back to backs like a normal backup goalie?

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by neo45

Why can’t “specific circumstances” just be the second half of back to backs like a normal backup goalie?

It's not 1997 anymore. Starters can't be counted on to play 70 games a season. It's just not sustainable.

The Flames were scheduled for 10 back-to-backs this season. You really wanted Rittich to play 72 games?

[ResAlien]

Are we all going to pretend the Flames aren’t riding Smith like he’s the #1 again? After Rittich’s multi game gaffe parade he’s been quite stapled to the bench. It certainly feels like they’ve put him back as the starter and are treating BSD like the backup. That’s a concern.

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by Table 5

My issue with Smith’s comments is that what he did was not a mistake. It may have been a mistake to go behind the net...but, hanging around and arrogantly trying to play defenseman? That was no mistake, that was just a pig-headed play by a guy who thinks he knows better.

That's twice today that you've characterized his play as arrogant. Is it possible that you are projecting? I don't see arrogance. Poor decision making, yes.

Just my .02

[Kasi]

Why is it a concern? I don’t think Rittich has shown in the last two years that he’s willing to be the top dog and run with it. He’s had his chances but his numbers have come back down to earth when he’s been put in that situation. Would I have liked for him to get more of a 50/50 treatment lately though sure. But it doesn’t seem to have hurt him too much in the games he has played lately.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

Are we all going to pretend the Flames aren’t riding Smith like he’s the #1 again? After Rittich’s multi game gaffe parade he’s been quite stapled to the bench. It certainly feels like they’ve put him back as the starter and are treating BSD like the backup. That’s a concern.

Rittich started 2 of the 3 previous games before last night.

[1Nite]

Because of work I missed, most of his previous five games, people said he played great, was he "great" or was he great for Mike Smith, was it more of the team played good, and he was what you expect a adequate NHL goalie to perform, and not let in soft goals, did he make some game saving saves?

[TheScorpion]

I don't have the energy to say more, but Smith was excellent against the Islanders, a legitimate division-leading playoff team. He made some game-saving stops. My hope is that he can do that many more times this year.

[LWcrowfoot]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I don't have the energy to say more, but Smith was excellent against the Islanders, a legitimate division-leading playoff team. He made some game-saving stops. My hope is that he can do that many more times this year.

They aren't leading their division though

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Rittich started 2 of the 3 previous games before last night.

Rittich started 2 of the previous 7 games before last night as well.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by LWcrowfoot

They aren't leading their division though

They were when the Flames played them

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by LWcrowfoot

They aren't leading their division though

They were at the time the Flames played them, and they were still Division leaders after the game was over. If the Islanders win their next game they could lead the Division again. This strikes me as a monumentally trivial point.


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[AC]

Originally Posted by LWcrowfoot

They aren't leading their division though

They were.

As of Feb 20th, the first game vs Calgary:
1. Islanders 76 pts
2. Capitals 73 pts

As of Feb 26th, the second game vs Calgary:
1. Islanders 79 pts
2. Capitals 77 pts