Smith deemed OK after apparent hand injury
There was a slight scare during Thursday’s game when Mike Smith appeared to be struggling with his glove hand.
That being said, the 35-year-old Calgary Flames goalie was able to finish the game and was fully participating in Friday’s practice which were all good signs.
Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan confirmed that Smith was just fine — an even better sign considering this city has just started getting used to having a regular, everyday starting netminder for their National Hockey League team.
“A long time ago, I went in net and those glove saves look so easy,” Gulutzan said. “Every shot that came felt like I got hit with a 95-anhour fastball in my hand. I’m like, ‘How do you guys do this?’ They’re like, ‘ Well, you don’t catch it with your hand.’ How can you even do that — it’s coming so fast? Sometimes they catch these things and it hurts more than you’d think.
“But they’re so good at catching it in the webbing. He got a couple in the hand and it stung him — like a 95-an-hour fastball that you catch a little awkwardly.”
Smith has started 15 games, including Thursday’s game, and has a 9-6-0 record with a 2.55 goalsagainst average and .924 save percentage.
Heading into Friday’s action, no netminder in the NHL had faced more shots (497) or made more saves (459).
Given those facts, plus Gulutzan’s indication that they still have another goalie on their staff (Eddie Lack), expect to see Smith taking a night off soon.
The Flames wrap up a sevengame homestand on Monday against the St. Louis Blues (7 p.m., Sportsnet West/Sportsnet 960 The Fan) which happens to be the team that Lack started against on Oct. 25. It’s also the same team that Lack previously posted a 6-0-0 record, a 1.63 goals against average and a .938 save percentage against the Blues in his career (prior to a 5-2 loss that night, the second half of a back-to-back on the road).
And, the reality is — the Flames cannot ride Smith for the next 66 games and into the 2017-18 NHL post-season if they qualify.
“(Lack) has looked really good and has kind of gotten his game back,” said Gulutzan. “At the end of the day, it’s tough for goalies to play 75 games. As good of shape Smitty is in, you still only want him to be in the 60s (in games played). So we’re going to get Eddie going here right away.”
DEFENCE NOT SO GOOD
Thursday’s 6-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings was the closest thing to river hockey as it comes.
So, no, Gulutzan wasn’t entirely thrilled about his team’s performance, particularly the defensive side of things.
“I wasn’t in love with our game,” Gulutzan said. “I thought we’ve played better games and not gotten points. But at the end of the day, our big guys came to play, and we capitalized and converted, which is a good thing. Lots of guys got on the board. We had energy, and we had life, and we made some real good plays. But I’d like to tighten it up defensively.”
The Flames were out-shot 42-34 while their penalty kill allowed one power-play goal on three chances. The good news?
Nine players got themselves on the scoresheet, including the third line of Sam Bennett, Mark Jankowski and Jaromir Jagr.
“We get fixated on the scoring goals part of it, and they were a welcome addition ( Thursday) because it gives guys confidence,” Gulutzan said. “But we have it in our stats and a lot of the metrics you see around, we’re one of the top teams at creating chances in the National Hockey League. Our shooting percentage is down, but we’ve created a lot more chances. But it’s a matter of time — if guys get some confidence, they’ll break through and score more goals.”