Mike Frickin' Smith - Page 7 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

starseed · 10-12-2017, 06:34 PM

This is from Yahoo fantasy hockey. Apparently the defense has been 'horrific'.

Quote:

Mike Smith allowed three goals on 45 shots in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime win in Los Angeles.
Advice: The Flames defense has been horrific in front of Smith, as he has been forced to make 42 or more saves in three of his first four starts. However, he has rattled off three consecutive victories and is off to a great start despite the lack of defense. A change of scenery is doing the former All-Star good so far after years playing for mediocre teams in Arizona.

Textcritic · 10-12-2017, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starseed

This is from Yahoo fantasy hockey. Apparently the defense has been 'horrific'.

So much of this has to do with much higher shot-totals across the board combined by the fact that the Flames have played 3/4 games on the road. Defense needs to be better, but it most certainly has not been “horrific.”

Zoller · 10-12-2017, 07:09 PM

http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hock...s-shortcomings

Article from Francis saying Smith is masking our poor defense.

I would agree. We can't keep giving up this many good scoring chances and expect to come out ahead in games. Smith has been rock solid but he's going to need some support

Calgary4LIfe · 10-12-2017, 08:37 PM

The eye test for me says that the Flames are allowing way too many good chances on Smith. Too many odd-man rushes and high-scoring chances.

Yes, the shot totals around the league may indeed be higher, but the Flames also have one of the best defences in the league and should be counted on to really be a leader in SA this year, especially of the high danger variety.

I am thinking it is just the kinks getting worked out at this time. Let's see where it is between games 10 and 15-20, and worry about it then if need be.

blender · 10-12-2017, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

The eye test for me says that the Flames are allowing way too many good chances on Smith. Too many odd-man rushes and high-scoring chances.

Yes, the shot totals around the league may indeed be higher, but the Flames also have one of the best defences in the league and should be counted on to really be a leader in SA this year, especially of the high danger variety.

I am thinking it is just the kinks getting worked out at this time. Let's see where it is between games 10 and 15-20, and worry about it then if need be.

Quoted for truth. Watching the games it's clear that the Flames are allowing too many good chances. The actual shot totals or how they are counted is irrelevant.
Smith is playing great, though.

JerryUnderscore · 10-13-2017, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blender

Quoted for truth. Watching the games it's clear that the Flames are allowing too many good chances. The actual shot totals or how they are counted is irrelevant.
Smith is playing great, though.

Fortunately Gulutzan is aware of how bad the defence has been despite our three game win streak. It sounds like getting the team to be much more defensively responsible is one of the things they will be working on over the next week or so.

handgroen · 10-30-2017, 01:28 PM

Bump

Such a battler

Erick Estrada · 10-30-2017, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by handgroen

Bump

Such a battler

It's refreshing to have a starting goaltender who seems to be as strong mentally as he is with his on-ice play.

Robbob · 10-30-2017, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's refreshing to have a starting goaltender who seems to be as strong mentally as he is with his on-ice play.

He also has a lot of swagger. He doesn't back down from anything and you can see he is having a lot of fun when the Flames win.

dash_pinched · 10-30-2017, 01:42 PM

It's funny, my pick before the season started was Grubauer so it was interesting to see the goaltending battle unfold last night. I thought both goalies were excellent and just hoping Smith can maintain this fine level of play.

fotiou22 · 10-30-2017, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robbob

He also has a lot of swagger. He doesn't back down from anything and you can see he is having a lot of fun when the Flames win.

Love how he got in Fiala's head on that first shootout attempt in Nashville.

Loudog · 10-30-2017, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotiou22

Love how he got in Fiala's head on that first shootout attempt in Nashville.

And how he just casually dumped Ovechkin last night -
https://streamable.com/fpftx

Gotta say, I really enjoy his competitiveness. You can tell how bad he wants to win.

Bunk · 10-30-2017, 07:21 PM

His stats are exactly what you’d want and his intangible qualities are very evident.

EVERLAST · 10-30-2017, 07:38 PM

Smith has been incredible. Man he works hard at not letting anyone beat him period. I wonder what he's like behind closed doors in the locker room.

He was quoted as saying he's got one job stopping pucks but he's done allot more than that.

CliffFletcher · 10-30-2017, 07:53 PM

Looking at the Coyotes' record this season, it's pretty clear Smith was the reason they weren't Colorado-bad last season.

Robbob · 10-30-2017, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Looking at the Coyotes' record this season, it's pretty clear Smith was the reason they weren't Colorado-bad last season.

They might give the 74- 75 Capitals a run for worse record.

Huntingwhale · 10-30-2017, 09:48 PM

At best I thought Smith would be Elliott-like. At worst I envisioned a lottery quality goalie.

I'm so glad to have been wrong. He'll obviously have his rough patches. But you can see it in his eyes. He wants the team to do well so bad and will do everything in his power to make it happen.

Just once in my life I'd like to see a combination of good goaltending, good offence and good defence. Instead it seems like we get 1 of these things, maybe a combination of 2 at the best. I will be so upset if the skaters waste a season with goaltending like this.

GoJetsGo · 10-31-2017, 12:20 AM

I don't remember which Capitals player it was being interviewed between periods last game, but the look on his face when he was describing how frustrating it was to have Smith coming out to play pucks was priceless.

His actual play in net has been stingy and he battles hard, but that ability to play the puck has been a bigger factor that I anticipated when the trade was announced.

It also seems clear now he was a pretty major element in the Coyotes being even semi competitive the last few years.

Really excited he seems to be finding a groove with us.

---Hatrick--- · 10-31-2017, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Just once in my life I'd like to see a combination of good goaltending, good offence and good defence. Instead it seems like we get 1 of these things, maybe a combination of 2 at the best. I will be so upset if the skaters waste a season with goaltending like this.

We saw this on Sunday night my friend. They play like that more, and the goals will come.
Hopefully it's something we can get used to seeing!

DazzlinDino · 10-31-2017, 08:53 AM

In some ways I think it has been good for the team that Smith can handle high shot counts. It gets him in a grove and he doesn't seem to mind the extra work. It has been extra refreshing not seeing a bad goal go in just the team starts to gain momentum. Very deflating whenever Elliot would allow an unexpected goal at the worst of times.

BT said they did a lot of research before they brought Smith in, still a lot of people didn't want to wait until we actually saw him play. Now if we can just get the bottom 2 lines working we might start to get some wins in the bank.