[Game Takes] Ducks 4 Flames 0

[Bingo]

Ducks 4 Flames 0

- Similar script ... Flames are good until adversity and then take on water
- Stajan stellar in game 1000
- Smith rough night
- Flames can't score once again.

[Strange Brew]

Hope you’re right about them just being a winger away. Kind of feels like they need more than that at the moment.

[flames_fan_down_under]

For all the talk that Smith has been giving in the locker room, calling out his teammates etc, he has been brutal at home and down the stretch and deserves a significant portion of the blame for where this team is.

He definitely won us a lot of games on the road earlier in the season but I definitely worry about his ability to perform next season.

[DeluxeMoustache]

[zamler]

Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under

He definitely won us a lot of games on the road earlier in the season but I definitely worry about his ability to perform next season.

I don't. He just came back from a serious injury and was rushed back for good measure. Now there is zero reason to play him the rest of the season unless in a relief situation.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under

For all the talk that Smith has been giving in the locker room, calling out his teammates etc, he has been brutal at home and down the stretch and deserves a significant portion of the blame for where this team is.

He definitely won us a lot of games on the road earlier in the season but I definitely worry about his ability to perform next season.

He was calling guys out for lack of effort, nothing wrong with that

Let in some ####ty goals, its not like he wasn't trying

[Dion]

I think Smith is still dealing with his injury and maybe came back too early. He doesn't look like the Smith we saw before he got hurt.

[Kjesse]

Rick Bell has developed a career writing one-sentence opinions for the Calgary Sun. He has yet to write an actual paragraph.

Frustration with the Flames notwithstanding, that's a comparison to avoid.

[DeluxeMoustache]

I liked Johnny’s chopping. Noodles would be pleased

[gunnner]

There was a few of us who thought Smith was played way too much start of the year and the drop off was inevetiable. He is at the age i think he needs to be on a 50-30 split next yr or i would expect a repeat.

[Northendzone]

I was thinking last night as this group of flames once again struggled with early adversity - how many guys on the current roster were part of that bob Hartley flames team that seemed to come from behind so many times a couple of years ago

[flambers]

Flames are missing Matthew for sure, not enough net presence.

Shots are fairly easy, not allot of grade A chances...

Smith has a rough game for sure.....

[Erick Estrada]

I hope to see Rittich get most of the starts to finish the season. I no longer see the point of playing Smith if he's not 100% and even if he is 100% he's been terrible and could probably use some time on the bench hopefully watching a Flames goaltender that's not giving up multiple soft goals on a nightly basis. For all flack Elliott took I don't recall him letting in nearly as many soft goals as Smith this season (that 5-hole goal last night was embarrassing as beer league goaltenders make that save 9/10 times). He's largely been pretty bad at home all season and that's just not going to cut it. With only one season left on Smith's contract this organization needs to start looking at working in replacements for him sooner than later. I personally don't care if he's a veteran player and the coach is too scared to bench him because there's a bigger picture here.

[DoubleK]

Good write-up, Bingo.

Really think they need to shut the guys with bumps and bruises down for the season.

There's nothing left to play for.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Kjesse

Rick Bell has developed a career writing one-sentence opinions for the Calgary Sun. He has yet to write an actual paragraph.

Frustration with the Flames notwithstanding, that's a comparison to avoid.

The solo word of "fragile" twice prompted you to write this?

[rooster]

Nice to see Johnny lay the body on and go tit for tat slashing that duck. Hamilton coughs puck up and he is the closest one to the duck with the puck but it is Gio throwing his face in front of the shot to try and block it! Nice effort Dougie!

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by zamler

I don't. He just came back from a serious injury and was rushed back for good measure. Now there is zero reason to play him the rest of the season unless in a relief situation.

To be fair, Smith has not been the player he was earlier this season since the January win streak....long before his injury. There is legitimate concern when you're talking about a very old starter like him.Either way, if your team can't manage to muster up 2-3 goals more often than naught, especially at home, I won't matter who's in the net.

Last night was just more of the same that we've seen all year. The team seems to be resigned to the fact that this terrible system is ineffective no matter how well they play it. Shot volume they create is nothing more than a mirage as Gibson barely had to make any saves I'd consider difficult all night.

[VilleN]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I hope to see Rittich get most of the starts to finish the season. I no longer see the point of playing Smith if he's not 100% and even if he is 100% he's been terrible and could probably use some time on the bench hopefully watching a Flames goaltender that's not giving up multiple soft goals on a nightly basis. For all flack Elliott took I don't recall him letting in nearly as many soft goals as Smith this season (that 5-hole goal last night was embarrassing as beer league goaltenders make that save 9/10 times). He's largely been pretty bad at home all season and that's just not going to cut it. With only one season left on Smith's contract this organization needs to start looking at working in replacements for him sooner than later. I personally don't care if he's a veteran player and the coach is too scared to bench him because there's a bigger picture here.

This is 100% not true. Elliott let in a soft goal most games... Smith is having a bad few games coming back from injury... other than this stretch, he's been our MVP.

[Toonage]

Elliott was benched less than a month into the season. Nuff said.

[VilleN]

^ Yeah, Elliott was terrible and didn't even solidify himself as our No. 1... It's embarrassing all the negativity and revisionist history around Smith right now... without him this season would have been over long ago.