[PGT] Wild 4, Flames 2

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Barnet Flame

Goalies win cups. It’s a well known saying for a reason.

Yes it is overly simplistic because even the best goalies need talent in front of them.

We have the talent - no question. However we are unlikely to win a Cup this year with this tandem.

Exactly right. I really like this roster and I expect a long, and entertaining playoff run this Spring. But the Flames are not quite there yet. I believe they will get there, but from my vantage point this year is still all about learning how to win.


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[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Was worth exploring, so I checked it out

Since Jan 1, in situations where the score of the game is tied or within 1 goal, here are their save percentages / GAA / TOI:

Rittich - 0.923 / 2.18 / 632:36
Smith - 0.897 / 3.05 / 571:25

wow.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Barnet Flame

Goalies win cups. It’s a well known saying for a reason.

Yes it is overly simplistic because even the best goalies need talent in front of them.

We have the talent - no question. However we are unlikely to win a Cup this year with this tandem.

Every team is unlikely to win a Cup this year.

One team will defy the odds but every team is unlikely to win.

[Steve Bozek]

Occasional bad goaltending’s a problem that’s not going to go away this season, so if the vanishing offence from the first line and Tkachuk isn’t fixed, we’re in big trouble in the playoffs

[Jore]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Was worth exploring, so I checked it out

Since Jan 1, in situations where the score of the game is tied or within 1 goal, here are their save percentages / GAA / TOI:

Rittich - 0.923 / 2.18 / 632:36
Smith - 0.897 / 3.05 / 571:25

thank u. enough with the false equivalency through arbitrary cut off dates and different caliber of competition

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Steve Bozek

Occasional bad goaltending’s a problem that’s not going to go away this season, so if the vanishing offence from the first line and Tkachuk isn’t fixed, we’re in big trouble in the playoffs

I think the concern is overblown. The top line has 9 goals and 33 points in 14 games since 1 February, and 5 goals/20 pts at even strength. The Flames have an 8-4-2 record since then, and have scored 42 goals in that time (3.0 G/GP).

Secondary scoring has mattered a tonne over the last month, and it will be really important once the playoffs begin. The Flames have been getting lots of it recently.

[Steve Bozek]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I think the concern is overblown. The top line has 9 goals and 33 points in 14 games since 1 February, and 5 goals/20 pts at even strength. The Flames have an 8-4-2 record since then, and have scored 42 goals in that time (3.0 G/GP).

Secondary scoring has mattered a tonne over the last month, and it will be really important once the playoffs begin. The Flames have been getting lots of it recently.

I hope you’re right. It just seems like the opponents are finding ways to check them better, and Tkachuk isn’t as scary good as earlier in the season.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Steve Bozek

I hope you’re right. It just seems like the opponents are finding ways to check them better, and Tkachuk isn’t as scary good as earlier in the season.

Yes. And that is why secondary scoring is so important. The Flames are winning with theirs now, which is exactly what you want to happen, because top players are not going to go a full year without hitting ruts along the way.

[wired]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

As usual, discussion about goaltending is completely off the rails. It’s embarrassing to this community when there are posters who talk about wanting to punch strangers for wearing a Mike Smith jersey, others who pontificate about his terrible lack of character, and a few who disparage his choice of hats. It’s disgusting. Smith had a bad game. Leave it at that.

There was a moment in last night’s post game panel where Brian Burke injected some much needed perspective. He said: “The team just won seven in a row. I don’t think anyone should be jumping off of bridges tonight.” He is absolutely right. But sadly, I also could not help but think that he must not read CP.

I sure do hate the Wild. I thought it was a really good, tight checking game that the Flames dominated. I thought the top line looked fine, but that Minnesota suffocated them—it’s what has been happening for a couple weeks now. This is why secondary scoring is important, and it is also why I am not overly worried about the playoffs regardless of the matchup.


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This team can win 35 in a row, and Smith will have a crap game, and the general crowd will yell for his head.
Newsflash....the Flames are doing good, take a deep breath, there are more games to be played.
Unless you bet 10k on the game, go to bed, wake up happy they are still in first place in the west.

[AC]

As frustrating as Smith can be, I really hate when the home team jeers the home goalie in any situation.

There's no positive to come from it, and when dealing with a goalie that has clear issues with confidence... it can only hurt.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by AC

As frustrating as Smith can be, I really hate when the home team jeers the home goalie in any situation.

There's no positive to come from it, and when dealing with a goalie that has clear issues with confidence... it can only hurt.

Totally agree.

[La Flames Fan]

Originally Posted by Flashpoint

I advise Smith to try another sport.


Like KNITTING!!!!

I took up knitting in a hockey film once...good suggestion.

[Barnet Flame]

Nm

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

This has been proven false. Someone from the athletic broke down the actual stats on number of hits taken by d men with smith in net vs. His backup and guess what?

Smith didn’t have any discernible impact

I Remember that story, but IIRC they just looked at hits in a game. I rather take the team and players side then someone who looked over game sheets for a hit stat that is pretty subjective and changes rink to rink.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by AC

As frustrating as Smith can be, I really hate when the home team jeers the home goalie in any situation.

There's no positive to come from it, and when dealing with a goalie that has clear issues with confidence... it can only hurt.

Well...yeah, but you're not going to be able to rationally explain that to a group of 20,000 semi-drunk and impatient fans who are reacting immediately and emotionally to what they're seeing live before their eyes.

Its like...watching a child fall down. In the moment its hilarious and you laugh out loud but once the scornful looks of parents and respectable members of society gaze upon you and sober second thought arrives you realize that you should have internalized that laugh because it was still funny, but vocalizing it at that moment was unwise.

Similarly with Smith, when he screws up we all know it. He knows it, but you have that instinctive reaction as opposed to internalizing your reaction with the thought of revisiting his preposterous gaffes later on at a more appropriate time and place.

Such is the nature of Professional Hockey. When you screw up in front of 20,000 people a good chunk of them are going to let you know it.

[The Boy Wonder]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Was worth exploring, so I checked it out

Since Jan 1, in situations where the score of the game is tied or within 1 goal, here are their save percentages / GAA / TOI:

Rittich - 0.923 / 2.18 / 632:36
Smith - 0.897 / 3.05 / 571:25

Now this is a real stat line.

Truly shows what the eye test is telling most of us.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by transplant99

I mean they cant be THAT bad as a tandem when they sit 8th overall as a team in GAA.

There are 50 NHL goalies that have qualified to be in the GAA stat. Rittich is 12th overall with 2.56 and Smith is 29th with 2.92. As a tandem, they are 2.80. That 2.80 looks a lot closer to 2.92 than it does to 2.56. It's almost like Smith's play is bringing Rittich's number down when they are teamed up. Smith has a worse GAA than Markstrom, Koskinen, Domingue, etc. Rittich is behind guys like Lehner, Rinne, and Price. Somehow everyone besides Lehner and Campbell are behind McElhinney, but that's a story for another day.



Saying that Smith can't be that bad because they are 8th together is disingenuous. That's like saying Brent Gretzky must have been pretty good, as between him and Wayne they have the most points between two siblings in the NHL. They have 827 points more than the Sedins, and since the Sedins are very good, Brent must also be good.


Mike Smith has not been good this year. He has had a few games where he has been good, but his performance over the year has been subpar. He is costing the Flames wins. On the other hand Rittich has played very well. He has had some poor games, but he is winning them games that other goalies can't. Smith thinks he handles the puck like Gaudreau. He has cost his team multiple goals this year because of his poor decision making and poor puck handling. For every game like the first NYI game, he has many more like last night where he could just leave the puck and try and stop when it's directed at him. He's already having a hard enough time with that one.


Rittich is 22-5-5 with a .913 SV% and 2.56 GAA
Smith is 19-12-2 with a .895 SV% and 2.92 GAA


That's not a great tandem. That's a great goalie with a subpar backup.

[zarrell]

Originally Posted by AC

As frustrating as Smith can be, I really hate when the home team jeers the home goalie in any situation.

There's no positive to come from it, and when dealing with a goalie that has clear issues with confidence... it can only hurt.

It's the whole internet dog piling culture manifesting in real life and it's pathetic. No reason to single out an individual on a team you support. Even if you are upset.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by zarrell

It's the whole internet dog piling culture manifesting in real life and it's pathetic. No reason to single out an individual on a team you support. Even if you are upset.

No it isn’t.

It’s nothing new.

See: Patrick Roy. As one example.

[Fan in Exile]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Exactly right. I really like this roster and I expect a long, and entertaining playoff run this Spring. But the Flames are not quite there yet. I believe they will get there, but from my vantage point this year is still all about learning how to win.


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I don't get your perspective. Sure, their odds may improve when they are more experienced. But it just doesn't necessarily work that way - as a progression, at the time the team seems best poised to win. Leave that for hindsight. Why do anything but take our best shot at winning the Cup this year?