[GDT] Flames @ Hawks 5:00PM MT Sportsnet West/Sportnet 960

[memphusk]

Concerned about Smith starting again, but hope the couple wins have helped him get through that mess he created for himself.

[Zevo]

Originally Posted by SmoggyFlamesFan

2018-19 Leading Scorers:

Flames:

Points - Matthew Tkachuk, Johnny Gaudreau (20)
Goals - Sean Monahan (14)

Kane has 30 pts

Matthew Tkachuk, Johnny Gaudreau have 29

[memphusk]

Mangiapane gets Stajan last year, and Ryan this year. Ouch.

[The Professor]

Amazed the isn’t already ten pages of Smith hate. I agree with the let’s start him against the bottom feeders for now argument. Lomberg was really effective last game I thought. Looking forward to seeing eat bread. Hopefully he’s evolved a bit since his last appearance.

I miss Valimaki.

Go Flames. Another dominant effort. 6-1. Bennett, Lindholm, Hanifin, and Neal x3. I feel like he’s looked real good out there, on the verge of breaking out.

[jonkaupp]

Jesus the guys running this team are stupid sometimes. Rittich in no way should sit three games in a row. Smith should be getting less than 33% of the starts at this point. What a joke

[DeluxeMoustache]

The team has shown they can win with average tending from Smith, have won a couple with him now, and the Hawks are awful. Why would people expect the mob now?

Edit: never mind, it’s starting ^

[locsofblu]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

News Update

Looks like Czarnik out. Mangiapane in. Smith Starts

Derek Wills @Fan960Wills
#Flames projected lines and pairings vs. #Blackhawks:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm
Tkachuk-Backlund-Bennett
Mangiapane-Ryan-Neal
Lomberg-Jankowski-Hathaway

Giordano-Brodie
Hanifin-Hamonic
Kylington-Andersson

Smith (Starter)
Rittich


*goes to hide as rage over Smith invades this thread*

This pisses me off. Why start Smith? Smith is an aging goaltender who is all but gone next season and has struggled mightily. Let's ride Rittich and find out exactly what we have with him especially when hes come off 2 loses in a row.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by activeStick

Even daddy Tre is there at the end of the clip

Man. So many of these guys look to be my age. I am depressed.

GFG


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MissTeeks]

A couple dad videos:

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by jonkaupp

Jesus the guys running this team are stupid sometimes. Rittich in no way should sit three games in a row. Smith should be getting less than 33% of the starts at this point. What a joke

Yeah. The coach who has his team in first place in the Division and playing demonstrably better than their rivals is such an idiot.


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[Ryan Coke]

This is maybe the first time all season I’ve disagreed with the goaltending choice.

It’s good to get Smith going, but you also want to manage Rittich to make sure he doesn’t sit too long either. Both guys have been good the last few games, neither has been great. Don’t see any reason to give Smith back to back starts here.

Hopefully the team plays well enough it doesn’t matter, and Smith plays well.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by locsofblu

This pisses me off. Why start Smith? Smith is an aging goaltender who is all but gone next season and has struggled mightily. Let's ride Rittich and find out exactly what we have with him especially when hes come off 2 loses in a row.

Smith has won his past two games, while Rittich has lost his past two. And Hawks are another team the Flames matchup favorably against.

There's no definitive #1 goalie right now. Run with the hot hand. If Smith can find a way to be an adequate goalie (no weak goal per game), then Flames are in a better position by having two goalies they can roll with throughout the season.

It's much better than having to overwork one goalie because you can't trust the other even in a backup role.

[btimbit]

Meh I'm not too worried about the goalies. This is exactly the type of game you start your backup, and we'll need Smith strong with the back to back next weekend.

[thefoss1957]

My guys are scuffling badly...unable to cover anyone in the low slot, unable to break the puck out...unable to keep teams from scoring in the first two minutes.


Saad has been hot, lately, in individual efforts.

Don't be surprised to see Kane double shifting...when he is with the FOURTH line, that plays the most direct game, that line actually is a threat, be it with Kruger/Anisimov or Kruger/Martinsen. Also, Kane plays EVERY minute of the PP, and on every shift post PK.

Our special teams, BTW, SUUUUUUCKKKKK! Last in PP and 29th (I think) on PK. PK stinks because of AHL quality D-Men.


Seabrook looks like he is at the end...cement for skates, whiffs a lot of clears, makes bad decisions. Also Kunitz has nothing left, if he dresses.


Toews/Saad have been ok. Kane/Strome/Debrincat can generate opportunities FOR BOTH TEAMS (can't defend a lick).

Gustafsson is dangerous, again, for BOTH squads...gives up as much as he creates.

Our goaltending is wearing out, because they are often being bombarded by uncovered guys.

I am not expecting much, except a house cleaning of Bowman (of the wretched contracts) and Colliton, who seems tossed into the deep end.

BTW...I was irritated with Q's firing...until a 6 game West coast road trip, with Kane either playing sick or being scratched, Q had dragged the team along in a playoff spot.

Good luck to you Flames' fans...I will be around the game thread to take abuse.

[delayedreflex]

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

This is maybe the first time all season I’ve disagreed with the goaltending choice.

It’s good to get Smith going, but you also want to manage Rittich to make sure he doesn’t sit too long either. Both guys have been good the last few games, neither has been great. Don’t see any reason to give Smith back to back starts here.

Hopefully the team plays well enough it doesn’t matter, and Smith plays well.

The reason is that Smith is the backup, and playing against one of the worst teams in the league is when you play your backup. I find it bizarre that people are upset by this - Smith has to play some games, which ones would they be if not against the weaker teams?

[locsofblu]

Originally Posted by Joborule

Smith has won his past two games, while Rittich has lost his past two. And Hawks are another team the Flames matchup favorably against.

There's no definitive #1 goalie right now. Run with the hot hand. If Smith can find a way to be an adequate goalie (no weak goal per game), then Flames are in a better position by having two goalies they can roll with throughout the season.

It's much better than having to overwork one goalie because you can't trust the other even in a backup role.

I disagree. Rittich has had far the better numbers and been way more consistent while Smith is still letting in a bad goal per game when he does get the start. To me it's clear who has a future with the Flames and who is our clear cut starter just look at the number. What's the definition of insanity again? oh ya Playing Mike Smith and expecting a different result.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by jonkaupp

Jesus the guys running this team are stupid sometimes. Rittich in no way should sit three games in a row. Smith should be getting less than 33% of the starts at this point. What a joke

I don't mind the opinion, but the "stupid" thing is way over the top.

Sample size says they don't know what they have in Rittich at this point. I think they're high on him and they are hopeful, but as Chad Johnson proved a few years ago, 15 starts does not a starter make.

At this point in the season the team is way better off trying to move both players along ... one in hopes of grabbing the number one, the other in rehabilitating in case the other guy can't get it done.

That's not stupid ... it's prudent.

I honestly hope they just go to win and your're in at this point.

[Freddy]

I’m not sure about that bottom six arrangement, I would rather see a reunited Mangiapane- Jankowski - Hathaway but I guess with Ryan - Lomberg - Neil put together the media would make a story about Neil being demoted to the 4th line. The proposed line up kind of has 2 3/4 lines. I trust Peters and his roster management, including building Smiths confidence back up against the weaker opponents. Go Flames!

[Monahammer]

Would be way more confident with rittich in net.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by jonkaupp

Jesus the guys running this team are stupid sometimes. Rittich in no way should sit three games in a row. Smith should be getting less than 33% of the starts at this point. What a joke

He's not sitting three games in a row. He played on Wednesday against Dallas. Relax and be happy that Smith is winning games.