[Game Takes] Flames 4 Caps 1

[Bingo]

Flames 4 Caps 1

- Gaudreau and Monahan keep rolling
- Smith big early to let his team settle in
- powerplay continues to click

[DeluxeMoustache]

I like how Jagr set up Bennett then Freddie all alone.

[Mike F]

Full admission: I was very down on the Smith acquisition in the offseason, for both his age (kicking the goalie solution down the road) and his play in recent seasons. However, he's up there with Gaudreau as one of the MVPs of the first 1/4 of the season.

For his acquisition to be a home run, IMO there are 3 things he needs to accomplish:

1. Show he can still play at a very high level;
2. Show he can play consistently throughout the year; and
3. Stay healthy.

He's already checked item 1, having a .936 sv% through the first 12 games, single handedly preventing the Flames from digging a really big hole to start the year.

2 and 3 are still TBD, requiring more time, but putting in a great performance tonight (and a sold effort in Detroit) to break up a rougher period was a good sign that he could check item 2. I've definitely moved from fearful to hopeful.

[1qqaaz]

To be honest, I think I learn more from these Game Takes than I do from actually watching the game.

I should just call Steinberg on Overtime, read this, and win the "Call of the Night".

[Itse]

Mike Smith is simply there. He doesn’t post shut outs every night, but he competes and makes key saves at key times in games to allow his teammates to find their true north and get back into hockey games. At the end of the night you see the Flames out shooting and out chancing the Capitals in a 4-1 win, but hidden in that is the yeoman job done by Mike Smith to get them into position to take the game away.

This is very well put. It's such a nice feeling to have a solid starting goalie.

Now, if only we could find a backup...

[the2bears]

Really like the new format Bingo.

[atb]

Any idea what's up with Brodie? This has been been a bad stretch of hockey for him especially with players being able to beat him to the outside with ease.