Mike Frickin' Smith

[blankall]

There's a very good reason why Smith was picked to represent Canada on several international teams. He's a good goalie. Scouts and people who play the game, can watch him and know that he has skill, despite some of the awful teams in front of him. Arizona has been a cash strapped team, that's been unable to properly build. The fact that Smith put up descent numbers there, is another testament to the quality of his play.

Calgary has one of the best defences in the league (on paper anyways). It's not surprise that Smith's numbers have gone from average to great on a better team. The only thing holding Smith back is his age. It's a shame he didn't demand a trade 3 years ago. He'd probably have a great NHL career behind him.

[JerryUnderscore]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Winning it once can happen to anyone. Jim Carey has a Vezina.

When you win it twice, you're elite.

When you win it twice and the 2nd time you go 41-17-5 with 7 shutouts, a .931 save % and a 2.06 GAA, with a 15+ game winning streak thrown in for good measure, you're definitely elite.

By that criteria Tim Thomas is an elite goalie.

I'm not saying that Bobrovsky is a bad goalie. He's certainly an above average goalie. You could even argue that he's an excellent goalie.

But I would reserve the term "elite" for that rare class of goalie that is consistently on another level. Brodeur, Hasek, Roy... these guys are elite goalies. The term should be used sparingly otherwise it loses its meaning.

[Lanny'sDaMan]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Exactly this.

And yes, Price doesn't exactly have "bad" games, but he does have his below average games and the Habs get blown out because they can't overcome a below average goaltending performance.

I want people to remember how good he's been to start the year when he inevitably has a poor game. Please don't blow it out of proportion if he struggles for a couple games. Don't get too high, and don't get too low.

He broke the curse in Anaheim with a stellar shutout performance. He gets a little extra leash now simply because of that.

Where as the Flames have no end of experience in overcoming horrific goaltending, so the team theoretically should be able to cover for him when it invariably happens

[PaperBagger'14]

Wrong thread

[Bunk]

Mike gets peppered again, gives us a chance to win. Fantastic.

[soreshins]

Smith is just a boss

[jg13]

I can't get over how good his rebound control is. Just completely the opposite of what we're used to seeing the past 4 years or so

[Jacks]

Feels good to have a goalie where I'm not even concerned when the other team is pressing. Such a calm workhorse goalie, if we had him last year we might have beat Ana.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Jacks

Feels good to have a goalie where I'm not even concerned when the other team is pressing. Such a calm workhorse goalie, if we had him last year we might have beat Ana.

Might? Would have been a 4 game sweep for the Flames

[Samonadreau]

In my opinion weve been riding the back of Smith and relying on him too much. Hopefully the team realizes how lucky they are to be 3-1 to start the season and that to sustain this they need to tighten up defensively. That's not only on the defense, its on the forwards and there defensive zone coverage and zone exits.

Also gotta stop with the drop pass on the PP. Just carry the puck in North/South and get set up.

[JerryUnderscore]

From Kristen Odland's article this morning in the Calgary Sun:

“Our game isn’t far off of where it was this time last year,” Gulutzan said. “Our goalie, in my mind, has got us the last two, for sure. We do have some work to do. It’s going to be the same process we went through last year."

At least the coach, if not the rest of the team, are aware that Smith has kept them from the same 1-2-1 start they had last season.

[Displaced Flames fan]

I'm still waiting for his first bad goal. Hell, I'm still waiting for one that he might have even had a chance on.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

I'm still waiting for his first bad goal. Hell, I'm still waiting for one that he might have even had a chance on.

So far he stops every shot he should. The only goals going in are deflections, screens or top corner roof jobs and that's the way it should be. With his size he covers the entire bottom of the net at all times when he's on his knees. And this is why I'm a big believer in big goalies.

Good to see him proving the doubters wrong so far. It's looking like a great acquisition.

[albertGQ]

Man, those two Dustin Brown tips were sick. Smith had no chance on them. And Kopitar's goal was off the post and in so no chance either.

Smith has been solid.

[JerryUnderscore]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Man, those two Dustin Brown tips were sick. Smith had no chance on them. And Kopitar's goal was off the post and in so no chance either.

Smith has been solid.

Yeah, I don't blame Smith for any of those three goals last night. It's hard to be mad about any of them.

[Kipper is King]

Watching how active Smith is when handling the puck is really a joy. I think his long passing ability will prove useful in 3 on 3 OT and on the powerplay.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by JerryUnderscore

Yeah, I don't blame Smith for any of those three goals last night. It's hard to be mad about any of them.

On that second Brown goal it is actually really difficult to fault anyone on the ice. Hamilton does a great job of angling him away from the goal, and the fact that Brown tipped that puck so far from his body with such precision is really remarkable.

[Yrebmi]

Originally Posted by Kipper is King

Watching how active Smith is when handling the puck is really a joy. I think his long passing ability will prove useful in 3 on 3 OT and on the powerplay.

I wonder. In 3vs3 OT the goalie rarely has space and time to play the puck. Most shots are from in close followed by attackers crashing. Might be useful if a Flames player under pressure wants to back pass to the goalie.

Smith's ability to control a rebound and make a save are invaluable. Get the whistle and try to regain control from the face off.

[Finger Cookin]

Mike Frickin' Smith is a superior nickname to Mike "Big Boy"Smith.

[GoJetsGo]

Apparently Kings fans just hate him too (sounds like a long standing thing?) which is an added bonus.