Feb 25 practice notes. Maintenance for Gio. Smith starts vs Islanders.

[Cuz]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Don't start Smith against the Islanders. We don't want a repeat of last year.

Wouldn't that have been in the Barclay's centre last year?

[activeStick]

Very surprised Peters is going right back to Smith. I thought this was going to be a situation where they rise the goalie winning until the duration gets too long and then swap, but clearly not the case.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by activeStick

Very surprised Peters is going right back to Smith. I thought this was going to be a situation where they rise the goalie winning until the duration gets too long and then swap, but clearly not the case.

Back to back and Smith beat the Islanders last week.

Islanders are a team that likes to grind you on the forecheck, and they had a tough time getting their forecheck going with Smith in net last week so likely just going with that again.

[Duffalufagus]

Originally Posted by activeStick

Very surprised Peters is going right back to Smith. I thought this was going to be a situation where they rise the goalie winning until the duration gets too long and then swap, but clearly not the case.

I think it is pretty clear that Smith is the number 1 right now. No other way to spin 5 starts, a great showing from BSD and then right back to Smith. Emphasis on right now. Smith could implode at any time, as we all know.

But the current plan is for him to be #1.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Duffalufagus

I think it is pretty clear that Smith is the number 1 right now. No other way to spin 5 starts, a great showing from BSD and then right back to Smith. Emphasis on right now. Smith could implode at any time, as we all know.

But the current plan is for him to be #1.

Rittich will get two of three starts in four days between yesterday's game and Wednesday. There is absolutely nothing clear about the Flames goaltending situation beyond the fact that they have two of them that they feel confident playing.

[Gaskal]

If Trotz says Smitty's puckhandling was a huge reason the Isles didn't get much going then it makes sense.

[868904]

Originally Posted by Duffalufagus

I think it is pretty clear that Smith is the number 1 right now. No other way to spin 5 starts, a great showing from BSD and then right back to Smith. Emphasis on right now. Smith could implode at any time, as we all know.

But the current plan is for him to be #1.

Was Rittich's start really that great? That AHL team hit two posts.

Rittich looked a bit shakey to me. A win is a win and he can build on that.

I think the Flames are managing the goalies perfectly. Rittich took a hit a few weeks ago and they are slowly building his confidence back up again against easy competition.

He gets the Sens and then the Devils.

Smith has been playing well and his confidence is high. Put him in against the good teams.

The key is to get both goalies confidence up high for the playoffs. Flames will need both.

There really shouldn't be a Team Smith vs Team Rittich on here. They are both Calgary Flames.

[Duffalufagus]

Originally Posted by 868904

Was Rittich's start really that great? That AHL team hit two posts.

Rittich looked a bit shakey to me. A win is a win and he can build on that.

I think the Flames are managing the goalies perfectly. Rittich took a hit a few weeks ago and they are slowly building his confidence back up again against easy competition.

He gets the Sens and then the Devils.

Smith has been playing well and his confidence is high. Put him in against the good teams.

The key is to get both goalies confidence up high for the playoffs. Flames will need both.

There really shouldn't be a Team Smith vs Team Rittich on here. They are both Calgary Flames.

We are singing off the same song sheet. My point is that it is obvious to me that, right now, Smith is the clear #1 based on what we’ve seen since the break. And assuming his play keeps up, that is exactly what Peters wants.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by 868904

Was Rittich's start really that great? That AHL team hit two posts.

No, it wasn't. But his body of work on the season, is.

If it's just about what have you done for me lately...were any of Smith's starts really "that great"? Pittsburgh got 4 past him, The Coyotes and Ducks were AHL teams themselves, he let in a pretty weak goal or two to let the Islanders tie it up, and the Panthers weren't especially dangerous either.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Duffalufagus

I think it is pretty clear that Smith is the number 1 right now. No other way to spin 5 starts, a great showing from BSD and then right back to Smith. Emphasis on right now. Smith could implode at any time, as we all know.

But the current plan is for him to be #1.

At the very least Flames coaching wants Smith to be the #1.

[Duffalufagus]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

No, it wasn't. But his body of work is.

If it's just about what have you done for me lately...were any of Smith's starts really "that great"? Pittsburgh got 4 past him, The Coyotes and Ducks were AHL teams themselves, he let in a pretty weak goal or two to let the Islanders tie it up, and the Panthers weren't especially dangerous either.

Rittich has been bad since the new year, based on objective metrics. Moustache man will probably chime in and take you through a goal by goal analysis to support his theory that he has t been bad, but the numbers are not good. He was letting in a bunch of softies before Smith went in for 5 straight.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

At the very least Flames coaching wants Smith to be the #1.

The Flames want their experienced, veteran goalie playing at the top of his game in time for the playoffs. I think it amounts to that.

[868904]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

At the very least Flames coaching wants Smith to be the #1.

Incorrect. Flames coaching staff just wants to win.

Why do they care who the number 1 goalie is?

Rittich is by all accounts a good guy. Why would the coaching staff have a bias for Smith?

They just want to win and they play whoever is playing well.

[Bunk]

Yeah, I think they want both goalies to be confident and playing well into the playoffs. When Rittich was ahead, he was playing all the good teams and Smith weaker competition to regain confidence - it seems to be working. Right now, that has switched around.

They will just play who is playing better going in. If one stumbles they want to be able to have the other prepared to jump in and hopefully carry the ball.

[Monahammer]

I again think there is a terrible double standard in the way the org approaches smith and rittich and disagree with it vehemently. Rittich played very well last game and deserves another start. Dont care at all about the back to back.

[Duffalufagus]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Rittich will get two of three starts in four days between yesterday's game and Wednesday. There is absolutely nothing clear about the Flames goaltending situation beyond the fact that they have two of them that they feel confident playing.

I disagree. The five straight was telling imo. Smith is #1 right now. Not saying that can’t or won’t change, but throwing him in there for 5 straight was telling to me.

Just my thoughts. Enjoy the discussion.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

I again think there is a terrible double standard in the way the org approaches smith and rittich and disagree with it vehemently. Rittich played very well last game and deserves another start. Dont care at all about the back to back.

We have won 5 straight and are the #2 team in the league. There may be a double standard, but it's not "terrible". It's calculated for success.

[Duffalufagus]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Yeah, I think they want both goalies to be confident and playing well into the playoffs. When Rittich was ahead, he was playing all the good teams and Smith weaker competition to regain confidence - it seems to be working. Right now, that has switched around.

They will just play who is playing better going in. If one stumbles they want to be able to have the other prepared to jump in and hopefully carry the ball.

Agree. But on Feb 25 it looks like Smith’s crease to lose right now. If we go on an extended run I have no doubt both of these guys will be playing in the playoffs.

[Itse]

Well, what ever the situation with the #1 spot, I'd much rather have the current situation where both goalies have played well recently than the previous situation where neither had recently looked great.

Still a lot of time until the playoffs, plenty of time for ups and downs for both guys.

I think mostly we as fans could try to give them a bit of peace to work on their games.

(I'm still betting on Rittich being the playoff starter, but goalies are voodoo.)

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Season saved. You don't win Cups without your #1 dman who is having a Hart-worthy season and is our MVP.

Pretty sure we won Trade Deadline Day with this news alone...