[PGT] Caps 4 Flames 3 OT loss

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Sure... and how do you suppose you’ll notice if Smith starts to improve with Rittich getting “the lion’s share”?

By having a game like he had in Nashville and against Boston in his limited starts, perhaps. But don’t keep riding him hoping he’ll find his game, you’re just pissing away points that way.

[MisterJoji]

Honest question: what do you think our record would be if we had a goaltender of Gibson, Vasilevsky or Dubnyk’s caliber (assuming Rittich still gets the starts he has)?

1.) Vancouver (W)
2.) Vancouver (W)
3.) Nashville (L)
4.) St. Louis (W)
5.) Colorado (W)
6.) Boston (W)
7.) Nashville (L)
8.) New York (W)
9.) Montreal (L)
10.) Pittsburgh (L)
11.) Washington (W)

7-4 with some of the wins/losses coming in OT/SO. So maybe 7-3-1.

[btimbit]

Meh I get that people need someone to blame but I don't have an issue with Neal.

Smith on the other hand.... Yikes

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

By having a game like he had in Nashville and against Boston in his limited starts, perhaps. But don’t keep riding him hoping he’ll find his game, you’re just pissing away points that way.

Sure, and I guess my point is this:

NAS - Smith, positive performance
STL - Smith, negative performance
COL - Rittich, positive performance
BOS - Smith, positive performance
NAS - Smith, negative performance
NYR - Rittich, positive performance
MTL - Rittich, positive performance
PIT - Smith, embarrassing performance
WAS - Smith, negative performance

Looking at the last 9 games, I don’t see one game where it made no sense to give it to your starter. He played well, so he got another one, played poorly, Rittich came in.

Rittich started the season as the backup, and is well on his way to earning more starts and the starters job (if things continue as they are). But this also isn’t some magical snap of the fingers. Smith has played well after Rittich starts 2/3 times, and Pittsburgh was an absolutely disaster, so conventional wisdom says you put him back in.

It just feels like people are complaining about something they want that’s happening right before their eyes. Rittich is doing his job, and the longer he does it the more the starts will come, but you also have to pay attention to the fact that Smith exists. And giving him a week or two off after letting in 6 (when he’s still your best chance at the playoffs until Rittich actually has the time to prove otherwise) is bad management.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by Travis Munroe

So many people say this and I personally disagree.

If I am playing my 4th NHL game in net, I want you throwing everything at me. If you are throwing everything on net then chances are the majority are not great scoring chances. Let me touch the puck, get into the game and build confidence. These are the best in the world and just because they are a backup doesn't mean they are bad. I am sure most backups are not far off from the starter in terms of GAA and SV%.

They aren't bad but they're more likely to crack under pressure due to lack of NHL experience. You say alot of shots can get you in the game but it can also wear you out easier if you're just starting in the league. Anything can happen if you put the puck on net regardless of how high of a scoring chance the shot is. I thought there where too many times in the third were the Flames could have got a shot on net but went for the pretty play and ended up screwing it up.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by New Era

Mike Smith. No goaltender has played more minutes and sucked harder. .869 S%, good for 57th of 64 goaltenders have appeared in the NHL this season. 3.91 GAA, good for 54th of 64 goaltenders to have played this season. How can anyone defend this guy?

Easy. Because it's 11 games into the season and that's a small snapshot of an entire season. Because Carey Price posted a full season of horrible numbers, and yet is still a great goalie. Because Sergei Bobrovsky's numbers are .872 and 3.87, and I'd take Bobrovsky in a heartbeat.

It's entirely possible that he starts playing better in a week and we forget all about this. All players go through bad streaks in a season. Look on the bright side, he's just getting his bad streak out early so that he's lights out come playoff time.

[memphusk]

Smith is old and you don't really bounce back when you're 100.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by memphusk

Smith is old and you don't really bounce back when you're 100.

Embellish much?

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by timbit

Embellish much?

Not really. Hockey player years are like dog years.

[sureLoss]

Matthews will not play against the Flames on Monday per Babcock.

[direwolf]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Matthews will not play against the Flames on Monday per Babcock.

If true, then thank god. We need all the breaks we can get right now.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by memphusk

Not really. Hockey player years are like dog years.

Any substantiation or should I just take you at your word?

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Easy. Because it's 11 games into the season and that's a small snapshot of an entire season. Because Carey Price posted a full season of horrible numbers, and yet is still a great goalie. Because Sergei Bobrovsky's numbers are .872 and 3.87, and I'd take Bobrovsky in a heartbeat.

It's entirely possible that he starts playing better in a week and we forget all about this. All players go through bad streaks in a season. Look on the bright side, he's just getting his bad streak out early so that he's lights out come playoff time.

Except it isn't just 11 games. Smith has had 20 good games in a Flames uniform, and the rest have been mediocre to bad. Mike Smith has been mediocre to poor the majority of his career. PERIOD. One great season, and a whole lot more where he was average at best, and below average. Yeah, there are going to be those who argue that Smith played for some bad teams, but I could easily argue that his teams were bad because Mike Smith was one of the goaltenders of record. The Calgary Flames will continue to be garbage until they can improve on Mike Smith, as Mike Smith is just a bad goaltender. And the laughable suggestion that Smith is just getting his bad stretch out of the way so he can play lights out come playoff time - well a Smith led Flames team will not be in playoff contention, giving him opportunity to show his amazing skills. With Smith in net, this team will be done by Christmas.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by timbit

Any substantiation or should I just take you at your word?

Huh, I thought it was a little comment made as a joke, and thought it was a bit funny.

Dammit. I guess I was wrong.

memphusk, show your math.

Thanks

[djsFlames]

.920 from Smith and I'd wager the team is 8-3.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by New Era

Except it isn't just 11 games. Smith has had 20 good games in a Flames uniform, and the rest have been mediocre to bad. Mike Smith has been mediocre to poor the majority of his career. PERIOD. One great season, and a whole lot more where he was average at best, and below average. Yeah, there are going to be those who argue that Smith played for some bad teams, but I could easily argue that his teams were bad because Mike Smith was one of the goaltenders of record. The Calgary Flames will continue to be garbage until they can improve on Mike Smith, as Mike Smith is just a bad goaltender. And the laughable suggestion that Smith is just getting his bad stretch out of the way so he can play lights out come playoff time - well a Smith led Flames team will not be in playoff contention, giving him opportunity to show his amazing skills. With Smith in net, this team will be done by Christmas.

lol

OK, we get it, you hate Smith. It's just about the only thing you bother to post anymore. You seem so sure, but what happens if you're wrong?

[timbit]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

.920 from Smith and I'd wager the team is 8-3.

15th instead of 30th in high danger chances against and I would offer the same bet.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Matthews will not play against the Flames on Monday per Babcock.

Regardless, I bet it's going to be a 6-5 game. Two teams that like to score but not so much defend.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

.920 from Smith and I'd wager the team is 8-3.

I know that you can’t really apply stats like this, in a vacuum, but just for fun I applied a .920 Sv% to each game.

at Vancouver
.920 = 2 goals against = OT/SO loss at worst

Vancouver
.920 = 2 goals against = win

at Nashville
.920 = 4 goals against = loss

at St. Louis
.920 = 3 goals against = OT/SO loss at worst

at Colorado
Rittich = win

Boston
.920 = 2 goals against = win

Nashville
.920 = 3 goals against = OT/SO loss at worst

at New York
Rittich = win

at Montreal
Rittich = loss

Pittsburgh
.920 or .900 = loss

Washington
.920 = 2 goals against = win

I’ll split the difference on the OT/SO game and say with won 2 and lost 2.

Record = 6-3-2

A .920 Sv% right now would be 14th in the league, so almost smack dab in the middle of the pack of goaltenders. Had Smith been even average we would be top in the division.

[dino7c]

Crossbar away from beating the defending cup champs...game is a tie

It was a solid effort