[GDT] Los Angeles (27-39-8-62) @ Calgary (47-21-7-101) 7:00pm (SNW)

[Caged Great]

Smith is looking more and more like he was prior to his injury last year. You know, the guy who went to the all star game. If he can play like that, and with the added rest, Rittich is fresh for the playoffs, then magically you have two awesome options at your disposal in case one guy isn't feeling it when the games actually matter.

That would be huge, and would heavily increase the Flames odds of going very far, like Stanley Cup final far.

Having both guys play regularly this month has been a great decision and has paid dividends, especially with both playing as good as they have recently. Hopefully that continues.

[Funkhouser]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Yeah, that's what I am thinking. But then again Monahan missed two games last week around some fairly cryptic circumstances. He may not be "injured," but I am still willing to bet that he is playing through something—be it fatigue from an illness, or pain of some sort.

It could be one of those injuries that isn't possible to heal until the off-season via surgery, etc.

I agree with many here that the top line needs to be dominating for the playoffs (which they aren't presently). Even Lindholm has looked very tentative of late, lacking the confidence he had earlier in the year.

Johnny and Matt will have a big game tonight (they always do vs the Kings), and will hopefully drag the top line out of their slumber.

Smith is taking the easy starts. I expect Rittich in for the Stars/Sharks/Ducks games, as I do for game 1 of the playoffs.

[MissTeeks]

So has Kovalchuk just given up on the season?

https://twitter.com/user/status/1110234377571565568

https://twitter.com/user/status/1110238621720854529

[Toonage]

^ Both pleasant surprises I suppose.

[Otto-matic]

Originally Posted by Funkhouser

It could be one of those injuries that isn't possible to heal until the off-season via surgery, etc.

I agree with many here that the top line needs to be dominating for the playoffs (which they aren't presently). Even Lindholm has looked very tentative of late, lacking the confidence he lacked earlier in the year.

Johnny and Matt will have a big game tonight (they always do vs the Kings), and will hopefully drag the top line out of their slumber.

Smith is taking the easy starts. I expect Rittich in for the Stars/Sharks/Ducks games, as I do for game 1 of the playoffs.

If its another offseason surgery for Monahan, I'd almost want the flames to give him the Kawhi Leonard treatment.

[GranteedEV]

If Mike Smith has any of the following stat lines tonight, his SV% will be above the .900 threshold for the first time since Game 3 of the season:

SV		SA
16	/	16
17	/	17
18	/	18
19	/	19
20	/	20
21	/	21
21	/	22
22	/	23
23	/	24
24	/	25
25	/	26
26	/	27
27	/	28
28	/	29
29	/	30
30	/	31
30	/	32
31	/	33
32	/	34
33	/	35
34	/	36
35	/	37
36	/	38
37	/	39
38	/	40
39	/	41
39	/	42
40	/	43
41	/	44
42	/	45

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

So has Kovalchuk just given up on the season?

https://twitter.com/user/status/1110234377571565568

LA Times: Kings' Ilya Kovalchuk feels like he didn't 'have a chance' after Willie Desjardins took over

Originally Posted by Ilya Kovalchuk

"After Willie came here, I don’t have a chance. I play five, six minutes a game. A few games I play with Kopi. We did well. We score all five games, but then he decided to change and I never play again much. That’s the way he sees the situation. He’s the head coach and he’s responsible for results...

"It’s not fair to me but I’m not going to cry in the pillow. The sun’s up and the kids are in school and they’re happy and that’s most important thing. I will find a way to go through this, for sure."

[GioforPM]

16/16 would be lovely.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Certainly suggests Monahan can't be hurt if they're handling Bennett this way no?

Maybe. Wasn't the severity of his injuries a bit of a surprise last year though? I thought there was a comment that he was hiding how bad he was truly injured from the team until he just couldn't handle it anymore.

Of course, now they should be a bit wiser to him.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Smith is looking more and more like he was prior to his injury last year. You know, the guy who went to the all star game. If he can play like that, and with the added rest, Rittich is fresh for the playoffs, then magically you have two awesome options at your disposal in case one guy isn't feeling it when the games actually matter.

That would be huge, and would heavily increase the Flames odds of going very far, like Stanley Cup final far.

Having both guys play regularly this month has been a great decision and has paid dividends, especially with both playing as good as they have recently. Hopefully that continues.

It's a step in the right direction for sure, but there still no arguing that Rittich has seen the bulk of the "tougher" starts and Smith has been putting up his improved numbers against pretty blah teams for the better half of the last 5-6 weeks.

The staff is getting the benefit of the doubt from me at this point, but I know I wouldn't be simply anointing Smith the game 1 playoff starter yet. If they want to go that route, he'd better start games against the Sharks and Stars to prove he's ready to do this against playoff rosters on a more than one off basis.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Rittich is sick.

Derek Wills @Fan960Wills
#Flames David Rittich was feeling a little under the weather this weekend. He’s feeling better today but still not 100%. Mike Smith gets third-straight start.

But....but what am I supposed to do with my freshly sharpened pitchfork now?

[savardandjokinen]

Kovalchuks stats aren’t bad. Not sure how he can’t crack their ####ty lineup

[Jiggy_12]

Certainly feels like Fantenberg has carved out the new floor for the top 6 on Defense, and that's his position to lose now.

[WhiteTiger]

Going to the game tonight with my wife. Here's hoping for a great show! Go Flames go!

[colbym72]

Eric Francis @EricFrancis
1m
Drew Doughty just teed off on Matthew Tkachuk, who he'll face tonight: "No respect for him, none. I respect everyone else. I’ll never talk to him off the ice. ... He’s not respected by most of the people in the league, it’s not just me – that’s just a fact." Full story to follow

[FlamesNation23]

Originally Posted by colbym72

Eric Francis @EricFrancis
1m
Drew Doughty just teed off on Matthew Tkachuk, who he'll face tonight: "No respect for him, none. I respect everyone else. I’ll never talk to him off the ice. ... He’s not respected by most of the people in the league, it’s not just me – that’s just a fact." Full story to follow

Looks like tkachuk is living rent free in doughtys head lol. Love it

[Toonage]

Doughty. Such a pissy whiner.

[OutOfTheCube]

More like Drew Pouty, am I right?

[Five-hole]

Sure thing pal. A 35 G, 75 point player at 21 that gets under the skin of players and by all accounts just bleeds hockey isn't respected by anyone in the league. Or maybe it's just you who has their diaper in a twist?

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

It's a step in the right direction for sure, but there still no arguing that Rittich has seen the bulk of the "tougher" starts and Smith has been putting up his improved numbers against pretty blah teams for the better half of the last 5-6 weeks.

The staff is getting the benefit of the doubt from me at this point, but I know I wouldn't be simply anointing Smith the game 1 playoff starter yet. If they want to go that route, he'd better start games against the Sharks and Stars to prove he's ready to do this against playoff rosters on a more than one off basis.

Well there's a bit of argument actually

Player	#	Last 5	Last 10	Last 15	Last 20	QS%
Smith	38	0.915	0.922	0.917	0.905	47%
	Opp	0.508	0.539	0.541	0.546	
Rittich	42	0.920	0.895	0.896	0.898	62%
	Opp	0.536	0.540	0.548	0.547

Rittich has certainly faced tougher opponents in each goalie's last five games, but Smith is right there in the last 10, 15 and 20