[GDT] Flames (41-17-7) vs. Maple Leafs (40-21-4) at 7:00 on Sportsnet West

[Beninho]

I don’t really have a hatred towards the leafs, more that I hate how Canadian media disproportionally covers them. #### Kadri tho, unfortunately he’s not playing so we don’t get to see Gio dominate him. That hit has to be one of my favourite Gio highlights.

https://youtu.be/YITSiM9jAUQ

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[activeStick]

Originally Posted by Jore

Really wish the team had tried to get Rittich more than 2 games in 7 against the lowest scoring teams in the league and gotten him into a rhythm before throwing him in against a high scoring Toronto in another pressure situation after Smith went full Mike Smith. He's saved the season before, let's hope he can do it again.

This is a concern I've had as well. A lot is said on this forum about making sure the team gets Smith in for games so he's ready when called upon, but the same thought process hasn't been applied for Rittich, which is odd. He recently went almost 3 weeks (I think), without a game, played the next one and then I believe sat again. Strange they'd afford Smith that consideration, but not give Rittich the same. Perhaps they just feel that Rittich is mentally stronger and he feels he doesn't need the regular playing time if it means getting Smith back into being an average goalie?

[The Swedish Flame]

Only two games to go before I get to see the Flames down here in Arizona for the first time!

Moved here 1.5 months ago and have already gone to two Coyotes games. The tickets are sooooooo much cheaper than they were in Chicago. God bless the poor desert folks who do not know what they're missing.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

I 100% thought this game was tomorrow.

Like I don't even have any beer for this evening, and due to a storm things are closed.

Bah, regardless Go Flames Go

[Draug]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Eight games, one loss, and now the season needs to be "saved"?

What in the hell?

Because, in the playoffs, you can't have goaltending that gives away even one game in every six game stretch. Even in Smith's recent relatively good run, that is exactly what he has done.

The success, or "saving", of the season will be defined by our playoff success. Having Smith give away one game per series will likely torpedo any playoff run.

[Flamboyant 14]

This is a must win for us living in the GTHA (Leafland) area.They are the most arrogant,bull headed fans in the world.Go Flames Go.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Unfortunately, yes.

Flames record against the Knights isn't good.

Have yet to win at T-Mobile, and the only times the Flames beat them were when Subban was started and not pulled and the last day of the 2017-2018 season when the Knights had zero interest.

Not impossible to win, and the Flames could blow their doors off both times. Who knows. But just the same, the chances are good the Flames lose both, yes.

Last season is not relevant at all...Flames will be the favourite in both games...saying there is a good chance they will lose both is pessimistic. Flames haven't lost back to back regulation games since Nov. 15th.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Last season is not relevant at all...Flames will be the favourite in both games...saying there is a good chance they will lose both is pessimistic. Flames haven't lost back to back regulation games since Nov. 15th.

Ok...then look at the part of my post where I tell you they beat the Knights once this year in 2 tries and the loss was in Vegas.

And if they lose both to the Knights it won't be back to back.

Pessimistic is one thing. Blind optimism is another.

[ForeverFlameFan]

We lose one game and some of us are freaking out that we aren't a contending team.

Can't wait to lose a game in the playoffs in a 7 game series, and a ton of you all thinking we're screwed.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Ok...then look at the part of my post where I tell you they beat the Knights once this year in 2 tries and the loss was in Vegas.

And if they lose both to the Knights it won't be back to back.

Pessimistic is one thing. Blind optimism is another.

Vegas is going to be a hard team to beat. Honestly, we should at least shoot for a win in either building against the team. They are becoming a red hot team as of late, so we need to at least figure out how to pull a win against them, especially if it's Fleury.

And, if we happen to lose to them twice, then we better expect the possibility of playing them in a 7 game series come playoff time.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Ok...then look at the part of my post where I tell you they beat the Knights once this year in 2 tries and the loss was in Vegas.

And if they lose both to the Knights it won't be back to back.

Pessimistic is one thing. Blind optimism is another.

Saying the Flames are likely to lose both games is a bit odd since the Flames are better than the Knights and the odds will reflect this. They will be good fun games regardless.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by heep223

Saying the Flames are likely to lose both games is a bit odd since the Flames are better than the Knights and the odds will reflect this. They will be good fun games regardless.

100%

But I didn't say they'd lose both games. I did say there was a good chance. I also suggested the opposite.

I said was that this would be a tough week and the record wasn't good against the Knights but they could also blow their doors off.

[Jore]

Originally Posted by Draug

Because, in the playoffs, you can't have goaltending that gives away even one game in every six game stretch. Even in Smith's recent relatively good run, that is exactly what he has done.

The success, or "saving", of the season will be defined by our playoff success. Having Smith give away one game per series will likely torpedo any playoff run.

Yes, the team also won't be facing league bottom offensive teams like Anaheim or Arizona (though this is possible) that Smith faced during the much lauded win streak for 7 game series in the playoffs.

I've liked this season as much as anyone, but at this point, an early round exit due to bad goaltending would be a bitter disappointment.

As I understood it, my post was more about the team's seeming unwillingness thus far to stabilize and support Rittich, their clearly better performer across every sample size, especially when adjusted against opposition, as the playoffs quickly come up. I apologize if my polemical statement about "saving the season" distracted from this.

Rittich starts with the coaching staff allowing him to work through a cold patch and get back to his season average instead of giving Smith 5 starts in 7 until he reverts to his season average would have made me feel better about the prospects of where this season is heading.

[Rick M.]

The Flames, deliberately or not, seem to be sending the message that they are losing confidence in Rittich. I hope he’s not losing confidence in himself.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

The Flames, deliberately or not, seem to be sending the message that they are losing confidence in Rittich. I hope he’s not losing confidence in himself.

It is bizarre to me that people think this. He is a second-year NHL goalie, has started most of the games for his team, and is getting his third start in five games on home ice against one of the highest scoring teams in the NHL. I can't see why on earth anyone would imagine that the team is losing confidence in their 26-year-old goalie.

[hwy19man]

Pregame links
https://scores.nbcsports.com/nhl/pre...&home=3&vis=21
http://sportsstats.cbc.ca/hockey/nhl...summary_4.html
http://sportsstats.cbc.ca/hockey/nhl...preview_4.html

[Spinach]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Is the game actually starting at 9pm out East? Ha!

Also lest we all forget, Leaf's fans were complete obnoxious d-bags after the last couple games against them. Read the ATL reports to see. I never really had anything against the Leafs before. After reading some of the stuff they wrote, they can suck an egg.

I hope Tavares gets his jammies chant, the Leafs lose in a blowout, and the ATL report is extra salty!

News flash: Since at least the early 90's, leaf fans have been the whiniest bunch of whiners who ever whined. Or at least they're the most noticeable since there are far too many of them and half the Canadian sports media probably have framed leaf pyjamas.

Regardless, may the Dome taunt Tavares mercilessly as the Flames burn the leaves.

[genetic_phreek]

Wonder when Lazar 2.0 draws in.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

It is bizarre to me that people think this. He is a second-year NHL goalie, has started most of the games for his team, and is getting his third start in five games on home ice against one of the highest scoring teams in the NHL. I can't see why on earth anyone would imagine that the team is losing confidence in their 26-year-old goalie.

It does seem like less priority is made towards building Rittich’s confidence when compared to Smith. Case in point would be comparing how the goalies were treated when giving up bad goals recently.

In the San Jose game, when Rittich went out to play the puck and turned it over to Brent Burns who then scored to give the sharks a 2-1 lead, Rittich was pulled immediately. When Smith went out of this net to play the puck... and stayed out there for some reason... Minnesota scored to make a 2-1 game. Smith, however, was not pulled at all. He then let in another poor goal later when the flames were making a late push.

It’s just frustrating how short the leash is on Rittich compared to Smith despite Rittich showing as the better goaltender this season.




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[bax]

Originally Posted by stemit14

It does seem like less priority is made towards building Rittich’s confidence when compared to Smith. Case in point would be comparing how the goalies were treated when giving up bad goals recently.

In the San Jose game, when Rittich went out to play the puck and turned it over to Brent Burns who then scored to give the sharks a 2-1 lead, Rittich was pulled immediately. When Smith went out of this net to play the puck... and stayed out there for some reason... Minnesota scored to make a 2-1 game. Smith, however, was not pulled at all. He then let in another poor goal later when the flames were making a late push.

It’s just frustrating how short the leash is on Rittich compared to Smith despite Rittich showing as the better goaltender this season.




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There is a huge difference in pulling the goalie 10 minutes into the first and pulling a goalie 10 minutes into the third.

These goalies are grown men. Professional athletes. They don't have fragile egos and can handle sitting on the bench for a few games while the other guy is on his game.