[News] Practice notes [post # 5]—Rittich and Smith to split starting duties on the weekend

[Textcritic]

I was not sure where to put this as I have not yet seen a thread about Flames practice yet today.

This was just mentioned on SN960. David Rittich was practicing in the starters net today.

[jg13]

It was a given Rittich was going to get at least 1 start this weekend but he should get both.

[The Yen Man]

I'd start Rittich in LA. If he shows he's better than Smith (hard not to do at this point TBH), then I'd start him against the Sharks too. If he gets smoked in LA, then Flames have a real goaltending problem on their hands.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Give Rittich the starting job against the Kings, a team that we should be beating.

Give Smith the starting job against the Sharks, a tough assignment but one that he should try and run away with. If not, then Rittich gets the 4 game home stand to show what he’s worth.

[Gaskal]

Gaudreau in. Dube absent. Hathaway back in as well.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1061008607238488064

[Lil Pedro]

I'm at the point now to start running with the guy whose feeling it....if Rittich plays well in LA on Saturday and gets the win, put him in again on Sunday.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Lil Pedro

I'm at the point now to start running with the guy whose feeling it....if Rittich plays well in LA on Saturday and gets the win, put him in again on Sunday.

I am leery about this because the Flames have tried it twice already this season, and lost both games. One was because of a bad performance by the goalie (v. StL), and the other was because of a bad performance by the team (v. Mtl).

[activeStick]

Yeah this isn't a surprise given it's back to back games this weekend.

[Manhattanboy]

Far from a fan of Smith right now but have a feeling he bounces back with a couple of strong games.

[Freeway]

Dube isn't on the trip.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

Far from a fan of Smith right now but have a feeling he bounces back with a couple of strong games.

I have the same feeling. I believe he will work his way through this and get his confidence back.

[David Struch]

My heart says Mike Smith can work his way through this.

My head says he won't.

I hope this doesn't drag on too much longer. I just know there'll be some sort of excuse to explain Smith's next loss, hot opposing goalie, defensive breakdowns, lack of offense, bad calls etc... and this will continue to drag on.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by David Struch

My heart says Mike Smith can work his way through this.

My head says he won't.

I hope this doesn't drag on too much longer. I just know there'll be some sort of excuse to explain Smith's next loss, hot opposing goalie, defensive breakdowns, lack of offense, bad calls etc... and this will continue to drag on.

Are you talking about the Flames or the fanbase? Of course the team will do their best to minimize the significance of a poor performance in public, but I very much doubt the same is said behind closed doors.

As for the fanbase, I don't see a lot of excuses these days. People seem pretty closely aligned in thinking that Smith's poor play presents a problem

[Coach]

I have much more patience for a young tender learning and making mistakes than a veteran that needs a confidence boost. The team also seems to enjoy playing for him, I think his personality has endeared him to the team.

I want to see what Rittich can do. We’re hoping for a aging goalie to bounce back to what he was 5 years ago vs seeing what a good young goalie can do for the now and future of the club. Makes no sense to me anymore. Smith is playing with his eyes closed. Let him gain his confidence in practice.

[BigFlameDog]

I Posted in the other thread but probably works here too.

Saw Dube at the rink last night in Cochrane. He was there to push pucks for the local Pee Wee AA team, nothing strenuous but the lights are bright and he was in his skates. He can’t be too far off.

Really good kid, still out at sticks and pucks semi regular and always has time to interact with the kids.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Coach

...I want to see what Rittich can do. We’re hoping for a aging goalie to bounce back to what he was 5 years ago vs seeing what a good young goalie can do for the now and future of the club. Makes no sense to me anymore. Smith is playing with his eyes closed. Let him gain his confidence in practice.

I would be perfectly fine if Smith were to bounce back to a semblance of how he played before injuring himself last Spring.



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[ComixZone]

I'd really like to see Frolik - Bennett - Czarnik.

Ryan has just been bad, and I think Czarnik's speed could be a boost to Bennett/Frolik.

[868904]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

I'd really like to see Frolik - Bennett - Czarnik.

Ryan has just been bad, and I think Czarnik's speed could be a boost to Bennett/Frolik.

Ryan is definitely weak on the puck but I don't see how that's ever going to change given his size. However, his line seems to carry the play mostly. His faceoff percentage needs to go up though seeing as how that is one of his most important contributions.

I'm really hoping Jankowski got some confidence out of that goal he scored and turns it on. There is no reason for him not to be a better and more impactful player than Ryan. He just needs to prove it consistently and earn the coaches trust.

[Philly06Cup]

Historic stats that starting the same goalie in back to backs is bad. If they do play rittich for both, that should say a lot about what the coaches think about smith

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by Philly06Cup

Historic stats that starting the same goalie in back to backs is bad. If they do play rittich for both, that should say a lot about what the coaches think about smith

Agreed and I'd be interested to see how often the Flames have split back to backs since Smith has been the number 1 here. I suspect that the history would show that the vast majority of the time, Smith and the backup split these games, which makes this not even newsworthy.