[PGT] Gaudreau leaves early; Flames lose 3-2

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

It’s not routine or a soft goal, and it was a defensive breakdown, but it’s certainly saveable.

He makes it look like a harder save than it was too due to his inability to get square to the shooter.

Like there shouldn’t be this much room short side for Getzlaf if Smith is doing a better job of getting square. And look how far his right pad and blocker are outside of the short side post - what’s he covering there?

If he just goes into butterfly and pushes off to cover the post it probably looks like a good save but not nearly as tough of a chance that he made it look like.

Except he just made a save on the other side on a duck player that drove to the net, Flames dmen collapsed and then proceeded to fall down and the puck squirted out to getzlaf.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

If Gaudreau is out because of Getzlaf slash I might have to take a break from the NHL. Stuck in Toronto so didn’t see it but furious right now.

Hey now, Gaudreau wouldn’t have been on the ice with the empty net had Smith been capable of stopping a beach ball. It’s not Getzlaf’s fault, it’s Smith’s. Stick with the program here man!

[Hackey]

At least this year the entire team isnt playing like crap, its just the goalie. That seems easier to solve. Hopefully. I really hope they give Rittich an opportunity to see what he can do. Worst case scenario he plays like Smith.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by shadowlord

Get rid of Sigalet too. The Flames may have been acquiring past-their-prime goalies, but Sigalet isn't making them any better, so why not go in a different direction on that front (as well as getting better goaltenders)?

In the radio pre-game show, the specifically were talking about how during this extended break between games, Smith was working with Sigalet; but we aren't seeing any results tonight, anyway.

On his Candy Crush game?

[slcrocket]

This is acceptable collateral damage. If we keep bailing Smith out, the urgency to make a keeper change doesn't push a decision. A string of losses where we still play like the better team might be just what we need.

I'm not convinced that Rittich is the answer, but I am convinced that Smith is done. He's been done since that injury.

[zamler]

Mike Smith has the worst save % in the NHL.

[Strange Brew]

Peters saying Smitty played well. Kept them in the game.

Didn’t talk about the first period.

[Bunk]

Bill Peters has lost his god damned mind: "I thought Smitty was good tonight".

The ****

[Breakfast]

Expect some more fluff from the media types about how Smith is a “fiery competitor” who will bounce back.

[gamesaver]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

There are five or more backups i would take over smith: saros, grubauer, halak, miller, rittich, lehner,

Yes, and you can add more to the list like Anton Khudobin, he would make awesome tandem with Rittich. I wish people here would STOP calling for washed up goalies like Mason or Lehtonen, only to rage about the signing afterwards just like with Hiller or Elliot.

[bluck]

Wasn't Peters the guy that tore Eddie Lack a new one for sucking?

[FlamesAreOne]

Would you guys be content with Rittich as the #1 with Smith as his backup. Or would you prefer going with Rittich, getting rid of Smith, then brining in another guy to back him up.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

Does anyone know what Smith's numbers are since last year's injury?

Smith actually hasn’t been good since last season’s 5 day break in mid January. He was a .924% before the 5 day break and since, he’s been a .888 sv% goaltender with a 3.30 GAA. It’s like he went on vacation to wherever and left his game there.

This season he’s been even worse. Pucks seem to be going through his gigantic gaping holes between his arms, legs and really all over. Not sure if the small pads are the cause of it, but easy shots are rattling through the equipment and then in on a consistent basis, you know something is just not right with his form.

Rittich should get the bulk of the starts now because we simply can’t give up more divisional games on the hope that Smith can get his game back. Smith just hasn’t earned that loyalty as far as I’m concerned.

[Zulu29]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

Definitely saveable.

Absolutely not routine.

Smith has BOTH his defenceman guarding against a cross ice pass and is STILL cheating instead of playing the shooter. This tells me he either doesn’t trust his defenceman or he lost his net. Either way it’s garbage goaltending.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Robbob

Except he just made a save on the other side on a duck player that drove to the net, Flames dmen collapsed and then proceeded to fall down and the puck squirted out to getzlaf.

Wasn’t nearly that much of a bang bang play. Smith was set up and looking directly at Getzlaf as he brought the puck in.

He just got beat hard by the simple backhand deke. Gio partially recovers and forces Getzlaf to make the only move he had which was to go backhand and Smith got beat clean.

The Ducks video feed has better angles of it from the behind the net cam - honestly not as tough as the broadcast angle and Smith made it look.

https://twitter.com/nhl/status/1060413624907378688?s=21

[Breakfast]

Originally Posted by FlamesAreOne

Would you guys be content with Rittich as the #1 with Smith as his backup. Or would you prefer going with Rittich, getting rid of Smith, then brining in another guy to back him up.

Smith isn’t even backup quality right now. Some teams are holding onto three goalies, try to pry one out of Carolina, etc

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Peters saying Smitty played well. Kept them in the game.

Didn’t talk about the first period.

Originally Posted by Bunk

Bill Peters has lost his god damned mind: "I thought Smitty was good tonight".

The ****

Peters took a lot of flack for calling out Eddie Lack in the media a couple of years ago like he did. I wonder if this plays into his comments.

[GullFoss]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Bill Peters has lost his god damned mind: "I thought Smitty was good tonight".

The ****

he wont throw his goalie under the bus in public. i like it

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by FlamesAreOne

Would you guys be content with Rittich as the #1 with Smith as his backup. Or would you prefer going with Rittich, getting rid of Smith, then brining in another guy to back him up.

I just don’t think you can anoint Rittich as the #1. You can certainly play him more but IMO it’s hard to say what you’re going to get.

It’s probably about time to find out.

[flamesfan1297]

Originally Posted by bluck

Wasn't Peters the guy that tore Eddie Lack a new one for sucking?

Yup