[PGT] Poor goaltending does the team in .... AGAIN. Flames lose 6-4 to the Bruins.

[Kaine]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

Man with goaltending this team could really be the real deal.

They are, with BSD in net we are a true contending team. Heck with Smith in net we are a contending team, cut the dead weight and it will be a fun ride.

[-TC-]

100% on Smith. Inexcusable.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by flame^thrower

I just don't understand how some can continue to defend Smith. He's done. I really wish we had some other option. At this point if Rittich is still out next game, I think you have to go with Gillies. Sigh

I do feel bad for Smith. It's hard to see a formerly great athlete be so bad. He seems like a great guy, but he really does look done. The team has given him many chances, and there has just been no improvement. Even in the games he wins, he seems to be totally shaky and not know where the puck is.

Once again feel bad for Smith, not that bad though. He is getting paid $5 million dollars this year to stink it up. It's time to give him the yank though. Management needs to bring in someone else to be a backup/1B to Rittich. No way around it at this point.

[FlamesAddiction]

Yeah, I don’t understand how a lot of people still defend him or think he is good enough to be a back up. Guys like Brouwer and Butler played less important roles and were never defended.

To think he was the the default #1 when the season started. If Rittich didn’t pull through, we would be fighting for a playoff position right now. And Rittich is still pretty green. There is no guarantee that he won’t come down a little. If Tre isn’t looking for a decent goalie right now, it could be a wasted season. That would be such a shame since the rest of the team is great.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

The 1st and 5th goals need to be stopped every time. Interesting to see what Tre does about it, and when. Can't continue with Smith playing like that forever. Great to be patient waiting for a player to work out of it, but right now it's tough to watch.

[zamler]

Flames played a surprisingly tight game given the fatigue factor.

[Pizza]

Originally Posted by Yamer

Only 20 players dress per game...

I was counting Peters

ok, 20 and 1 of them crapped the bed

[Jore]

team has nothing to hang their heads about. brilliant effort against a good team in a back to back, 3 in 4. smith single handedly lost the game. again. 10 points pissed away this season by ahl goaltending. sucks that they have no better options

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

Man with goaltending this team could really be the real deal.

Overpaid and underproducing?

[Hockey_Ninja]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

Did Johnny only get 2 points tonight? What a disappointment.

2 actually. What a bum.

[your_dad]

Goaltending tonight...

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

Wow just saw that Gaudreau goal. Best player in the league.

The play shortly after was better.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

I'll take 80% of the league's backups right now over this.

Who is the 20% you wouldn’t take over him? Christ, I’d take Elliott.

[Knut]

I was a big Smith defender all year. But this was bad. He clearly doesn’t have it anymore.

However, can we keep away from calling him a “loser” or other names like in the Game thread.

Say he played like crap, Let in softies, cost the team the game . That’s fine. But personal attacks should be banned. Think the guy is doing it on purpose ? He is a good team guy that has lost his game. Personal attacks are not needed.

Anyways. Lost to a good team. Let’s get it back the next game.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

Man with goaltending this team could really be the real deal.

They are. Smith has cost at least 6 points, arguably more. I'm actually very confident in this team provided Brad can shore up our back up goaltending position.


The rest of the team is right there with Toronto, Washington, Winnipeg, Nashville, perhaps a slight step behind Tampa. They can almost score at will at times, it's really special to witness.

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by flame^thrower

I just don't understand how some can continue to defend Smith. He's done. I really wish we had some other option. At this point if Rittich is still out next game, I think you have to go with Gillies. Sigh

The thing about Mike Smith is that as a person and competitor, I love him. Seems like a great guy that hates to lose, and really hates to let his team down.

Unfortunately, that's precisely what he's doing now, and it has to stop. Problem is, he doesn't seem to be the one in control of stopping it, so something needs to be done.

It's just really hard to hate Mike Smith because he definitely gives a #### and he's not a garbage human being. I legitimately feel bad for him, but I can't watch him piss away any more games for this team.

[Robo]

Rick ball sounds so confused every time smith gets scored on like how the hell did that go in but he is such a professional he doesn't ever say anything about it just calls the goal

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I was patient about Smith but at this point, I simply could not imagine putting him in net for a playoff game. They’re going to have to find a backup.

Yeah, it's January. Season started 3 months ago and he hasn't figured it out. The wait and see excuse has expired.

Make a change.

[Frank MetaMusil]

I propose a shooter tutor behind Smith in practice so it's impossible to be so deep in the net.

[gamesaver]

Originally Posted by Racki

Have to think you come outta that with a point if you start Gillies.

Gillies has MUCH worse numbers in the AHL then Smith in the NHL. Thats something to think about.