[PGT] Wild 4, Flames 2

[dino7c]

Flames are gonna have home ice but all the pressure on them because of goal tending unfortunately

[zamler]

Not all that much time for this team get its mojo back especially the top line. Goaltending, I have no idea how this will play out if Rittich is the #1 guy then you ride him except for a few starts. If Smith and Rittich do a 50/50 thing then I'm officially very worried going into the post season.

[Yobbo]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Three stars of losing



1.Smith

2.Bennett

3.Raz

Exactly

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Because smith has always been a questionable starter,

Wrong. He posted seasons of .930, .910, .915, .916, .914, and .916 between 2012 and 2018.

a known headcase, a fragile and huge ego,

You have no idea of any of this. Have you ever met Mike Smith? Sorry to assume, but I don't think you have.

Criticizing Mike Smith's play is one thing, but my god, I've never seen a player so personally hated on this board as Smith. People legitimately seem to hate his guts. I don't understand it.

[jonkaupp]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

I believe and I think management believes that smith has the higher skill set and when on top of their game is the better goalie. He’s just had way too much time outside of his top form.

I like rittich, he’s a ton of fun to watch and is easy to root for but I just can’t help but feel that when things were going right earlier in year that it was being done with smoke and mirrors. He had been struggling in January and I fear and feel that is closer to what he really is as opposed to the one we saw when things with him were going his way.

Lmao good god. Rittich was smoke and mirrors but smith is skill? Lololol. And Rittich January ‘struggles’ (still won almost all his starts) we’re not even in the realm of Smiths struggles ALL season. And despite his short stretch of good play, he is still statistically one of, if not the, worst goalie in the league. Smith defenders are something else

[AC]

Coaches always talk about a goalie's recent game vs the opponent as a deciding factor.

Smith beat MIN 2-0 at home, Rittich stood on his head in a 2-1 win in MIN a week later. After Rittich won in NJ I expected Rittich.

Problem now is Smith was great in TOR earlier this year, and his puck handling was actually a big reason Toronto generated nothing.

I would still prefer Rittich. I desperately want Rittich to take the #1 job again.

[dino7c]

Top line has played well the last couple games...

[Jore]

Originally Posted by direwolf

Haha, wow. Might want to relax and have a drink or something, dude. You're gonna give yourself a heart attack.

yeah, more relaxed now. i guess i'm protective of iggy, thought his special night deserved a better end, and with how one single player was responsible for the loss, and how that player is the same one who has been single-handedly responsible for a few other losses this season...

it's not even like the team played poorly. they gave up 3 good chances, 1 because they went behind and generated way more than that.

[dino7c]

Does anyone honestly think Smith can handle game one of the playoffs at home?

[the_only_turek_fan]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

Mike Vernon should run into the dressing room and steal that Mike Vernon mask from Smith for being not worthy.

Mike Vernon cost this team more games than Mike Smith.

[Yoho]

Originally Posted by AC

Coaches always talk about a goalie's recent game vs the opponent as a deciding factor.

Smith beat MIN 2-0 at home, Rittich stood on his head in a 2-1 win in MIN a week later. After Rittich won in NJ I expected Rittich.

Problem now is Smith was great in TOR earlier this year, and his puck handling was actually a big reason Toronto generated nothing.

I would still prefer Rittich. I desperately want Rittich to take the #1 job again.

Smith virtually garenteed a start for Rittich next game with his play tonight.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Yoho

I’ve never heard him own one goal against ever.

Read what Brent Krahn has to say before you dismiss my point.

Krahn: “Every time he makes a save, it’s like he’s relieved. He knows he’s an elite goaltender in this league and he can still play, but it’s a mental game … you can tell he’s really, really hard on himself. You watch his body language and it’s negative. He looks very tense. When you’re a goaltender, you have to be loose and react to plays. He’s tight, he’s fighting, he’s trying so hard. But at the end of the day, he’s not getting the job done.”

https://calgarysun.com/sports/hockey...perts-weigh-in

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Wrong. He posted seasons of .930, .910, .915, .916, .914, and .916 between 2012 and 2018.



You have no idea of any of this. Have you ever met Mike Smith? Sorry to assume, but I don't think you have.

Criticizing Mike Smith's play is one thing, but my god, I've never seen a player so personally hated on this board as Smith. People legitimately seem to hate his guts. I don't understand it.

Jay Bouwmeester? Anders Eriksson? Jonas Hiller? Olli Jokinen (1.0)? Shane O'Brien? This is just straight from the top of my head.

Plenty of guys have been put through the wringer HARD here and all have earned it. Mike Smith is no exception.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Does anyone honestly think Smith can handle game one of the playoffs at home?

Can we sue him in a class action when he makes most of us stroke out during the game?

[jonkaupp]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Wrong. He posted seasons of .930, .910, .915, .916, .914, and .916 between 2012 and 2018.



You have no idea of any of this. Have you ever met Mike Smith? Sorry to assume, but I don't think you have.

Criticizing Mike Smith's play is one thing, but my god, I've never seen a player so personally hated on this board as Smith. People legitimately seem to hate his guts. I don't understand it.

You can despise the idea of a player having a prominent position on your favourite team without personally hating the player, this is how sports fandom works. That said, Smith leaves a lot to be desired with how he often seems to place blames for his crap play on the play of the team

[Psytic]

Smith needs to be yanked every time he lets in a dumb goal. I've noticed any time something like this happens he starts to forget his positional play and starts do superman dive belly flops on ensuing plays. This game could still have been salvaged after Hammers goal but Smith's confidence is generally shot after one bad goal he doesn't generally bounce back from it.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Offence not producing enough. Goaltending not good enough. That’s not gonna bring you a lot of W’s.

Oh well. Hopefully just a blip on the radar.

If management doesn't get their heads out of the sand this won't go over very well during the playoffs.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

Mike Vernon cost this team more games than Mike Smith.

Well no duh considering he played 500 more games for us than Smith... haha

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

Mike Vernon cost this team more games than Mike Smith.

Dear lord give it a rest...

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

Jay Bouwmeester? Anders Eriksson? Jonas Hiller? Olli Jokinen (1.0)? Shane O'Brien? This is just straight from the top of my head.

Plenty of guys have been put through the wringer HARD here and all have earned it. Mike Smith is no exception.

Wasn't on this board for any of those guys except Hiller.

Also, no, they haven't earned personal shaming and character assassination. They earned criticism for their play.

Calling Smith a diva who has a huge ego and such is nothing more than extrapolation based out of overemotional displeasure with his play. Nobody here is in the locker room, and we've heard nothing about Smith's character except from the GM, who says he's a great guy. I choose to believe him.