Mike Smith's... woes? He blows? Eating crows? Who knows! (Also David Rittich exists!) - Page 86 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Textcritic · 03-04-2019, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

Welp, it's starting to look like I might be eating crow soon. And not the happy crow where it's because Smith has been good. But the bad crow where Rittich is starting to crumble under the pressure. So now, neither goalie look like they're the answer and are going to carry the Flames far. Man, this sucks.

There is still more than a month left in the season. Even after tonight's result the Flames remain a top-ten team in goals allowed. It's not as bad as you think.

dino7c · 03-04-2019, 09:59 PM

who eats crow if both guys suck?

Frank MetaMusil · 03-04-2019, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dino7c

who eats crow if both guys suck?

Everyone who said their coach has nothing to do with it?

Textcritic · 03-04-2019, 10:07 PM

Why does anyone have to eat crow?

TheScorpion · 03-04-2019, 10:08 PM

My hope is the Flames can get Antti Raanta or Darcy Kuemper from Arizona after this season.

Textcritic · 03-04-2019, 10:12 PM

My hope is still that Rittich becomes the Flames starter. He has made big strides in each of his first three NA pro seasons. I believe he can take another step next year.

The Yen Man · 03-04-2019, 10:13 PM

At this point, I'll hope for the best and cheer on the team to the bitter end. But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't bracing for the goaltending letting me down.

FireGilbert · 03-04-2019, 10:17 PM

After tonight I guess Smith is the starter for the stretch run? If you have two crappy goalies might as well play the one who has been slightly better recently, can play the puck, and has playoff experience.

Textcritic · 03-04-2019, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

After tonight I guess Smith is the starter for the stretch run? If you have two crappy goalies might as well play the one who has been slightly better recently, can play the puck, and has playoff experience.

I think the goaltending situation will remain quite fluid until season's end.

Hemi-Cuda · 03-04-2019, 10:33 PM

At this point I have very little confidence in the Flames doing any damage in the playoffs. Looks like the Elliott era all over again

kukkudo · 03-04-2019, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

At this point I have very little confidence in the Flames doing any damage in the playoffs. Looks like the Elliott era all over again

I got the exact feeling.

TheScorpion · 03-04-2019, 10:51 PM

Feels like the opposite of Elliott to me. Pretty sure March was his best month as a Flame.

Hope we see the opposite of Elliott in the playoffs, too.

DazzlinDino · 03-04-2019, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kukkudo

I got the exact feeling.

We have to look at the positives. Sometimes it is a good thing when problems like this happen before the playoffs. Remember that beating we took from the Pens at the beginning of the season? The coaches said after that game they made some changes and adjustments and from then on the Flames surged up the standings. There is 2 ways to look at this loss, we can look at it as "the sky is falling", or we can look at it as a stepping stone!"

Flames are not going to win every game for a variety of reasons, but because we have a strong team we have to take loses in stride and use them as problem solving and building blocks.

Classic_Sniper · 03-05-2019, 10:57 AM

I can see a lot of people are down on Rittich after yesterday. But we're talking about a sophomore goaltender who's only lost 6 regulation games this season. Also, the games where he's given up 4 or more goals, its either been OT losses or its been against the top goal scoring teams in the league (TB, SJ, TOR) who routinely make goaltenders look bad.

Rittich is still the goaltender who gives the team the best chance to win IMO. Smith has had some good games in the new year and has shown that he's perhaps not done at the NHL level just yet. But with Smith, you just never know when he's going to give up that deflating goal behind the net or that leaky one at an inopportune time. The fans also get on Smith at the Dome so starting him at home just seems like a bad proposition for him and the team's psyche.

Geeoff · 03-05-2019, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

At this point I have very little confidence in the Flames doing any damage in the playoffs. Looks like the Elliott era all over again

To be fair, the Flames are a much better team this year and the first round opponent will likely be a lot worse.

Hemi-Cuda · 03-05-2019, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geeoff

To be fair, the Flames are a much better team this year and the first round opponent will likely be a lot worse.

I don't think the Flames will roll over in the first round like they did in '17, but I don't see them winning 4 games with the quality of goaltending we've seen in the last 2 games. And sure, Rittich might bounce back and play great down the stretch, but he's still unproven so we really don't know what to expect with him. I don't feel the same dread of a guaranteed loss like in 2017 against the Ducks, but with every game the Flames continue to get nothing from their top guys while the goaltenders struggle with easy shots my anticipation for the playoffs drop. I've seen far too many Flames teams struggle hard going into March and April and fall flat on their faces in the first round to feel any differently

David Struch · 03-05-2019, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geeoff

To be fair, the Flames are a much better team this year and the first round opponent will likely be a lot worse.

I'd say the 7th place Dallas Stars have just as good if not better goal-tending than the Flames, Ben Bishop.

Same could be said for the 8th place Minnesota Wild and Devan Dubnyk.

The Boy Wonder · 03-05-2019, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

Everyone who said their coach has nothing to do with it?

Finally back to the root cause... SIGALET!!!

Textcritic · 03-05-2019, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

I don't think the Flames will roll over in the first round like they did in '17, but I don't see them winning 4 games with the quality of goaltending we've seen in the last 2 games...

How about the quality of goaltending we have seen in the last ten games?

TheoFleury · 03-05-2019, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Textcritic

How about the quality of goaltending we have seen in the last ten games?

Instead of focusing on mini 'hot' streaks I think we should look at the big picture. Mike Smith is a sub .900 goalie at this point. Expecting that to magically improve get to the .920+ or so that is required for the playoffs is nothing more than wishful thinking. Especially when the quality of competition is ramped up and the pressure is on.

He is done, he will be forced into retirement in the summer.

If he plays in the playoffs, he is going to get lit up like a Christmas tree. I'd bet money on it. He makes Elliott look like Hasek.

The other team will be positively giddy if #41 is the starter in game one.