It's not even about "hot" - if the team gets solid, steady goaltending, they win. Smith's had a few good games recently, games where he's made some big saves and not totally gaffed one (or two).
But that's .... the expectation... an NHL goalie HAS to make some of those saves, if all the grade A chances are goals.... you don't have a goalie. So I take it for granted that a goalie is going to make SOME of those crazy good saves. Issue is, Smith blows one out his butt just about every game, and isn't there enough on those other chances.
Ordinary goaltending might not have won this game, I dunno - Dubnyk's been really good. But sub-ordinary goaltending won't win these ones, and I hope like hell we don't see Smith much more, but.... we will.
|