FAMILY DAY TREAT AT THE DOME
Flames win at home over Coyotes
Suddenly, there’s life in the old dog.
More bite than bark these days for Mike Smith in tending the twine for the Calgary Flames.
Case in point, Smith backstopped the host Flames to a 5-2 victory over his former team, the Arizona Coyotes, in Monday’s matinee.
It made for a lot of love on Family Day at the Saddledome.
“I feel like I’m back to the guy I know and love,” said Smith after the 27-save performance in his third straight start for the NHL club.
“It’s a double-edged sword — you never want to be complacent and say, ‘You got it,’” Smith continued.
“It’s something you just want to ride when things are going well and not let slide anymore. But yeah ... I feel more like myself in the net, and it’s paying off. I’ll do everything I can to start playing well.”
He already has, beginning with last Thursday’s 3-2 shootout loss to the host Florida Panthers, when he made 30 saves and allowed just two goals.
Then, two nights later, Smith made 34 saves in a 5-4 win over the host Pittsburgh Penguins.
Monday’s appearance marked the first time since October that he has got the call to the crease for more than two games in a row, giving way in that time to David Rittich and his hot hand.
“Obviously, it’s nice to get some consistency and some starts,” said Smith, who came into the game with a rather high 3.09 goals-against average and a forgettable .891 save percentage. “No one likes to sit on the bench, so it’s nice to get in there, help the team and get the game back going. It’s going to be an exciting finish to the season — everyone wants to elevate their game at this time of the year, and I’m no different.
“You need two good goalies that can play in big games,” Smith continued. “And Ritter’s done a heck of a job this year to be the guy when I wasn’t able to grab it there.
“But now I feel I’m back to myself and feeling confident in the net, so I’ll just continue to work hard in practice and build on the things I’ve been working on and take it one game at a time.”
Monday’s ‘one-game-at-atime’ was a solid effort again for the veteran, save for an iffy glove on two shots, when Conor Garland — with a well-placed high backhand capping a rush — and Jordan Weal — with a shot that ripped over the goalie’s mitt on the power play — scored goals for the Coyotes.
Both came in the second period, answering Flames goals — one in the first by Derek Ryan on a redirection of Mark Giordano’s shot, and the second on a highlight-reel goal by their captain. Taking a patient pass from Matthew Tkachuk, Gio rolled in from the point — from where he usually hammers shots — right to Coyotes goalie Calvin Pickard and used a quick forehand-backhand move for the goal with a defender draped all over him.
The goal marked the most points for Giordano in a season — now at 57 for a point-a-game pace — and there’s still 23 games left on the schedule.
From there, the Flames took over the game.
A broken play led to Austin Czarnik’s goal, as Sam Bennett’s shot hit a leg and caromed right to the first-year Flames winger, who headed for the net from the high slot and fired a shot low to the short side to beat Pickard. It was Czarnik’s second goal in as many games.
In the third period, Michael Frolik potted insurance for the home side, taking a pass from Elias Lindholm, walking in alone on Pickard and going backhand-forehand to beat the goalie blocker-side.
Flames alternate captain Mikael Backlund then salted it away with an empty-net goal late.
And Smith had his mind on the game when called upon.
“Mental’s a big part of it,” Smith said. “But it’s about getting in there and playing well and taking advantage of an opportunity and kind of running with it. To be a starter in this league, you’ve got to be consistent. That’s probably one thing that’s lacked early on in this season.
“And I’m excited about where we are at as a team.”
The win improved Smith to 16-11-2 and the team to 36-16-7 — still the best record in the NHL’s Western Conference.
“He’s been good,” said Flames head coach Bill Peters. "Our goaltenders have been good.
“I like the fact we were tighter here defensively. We haven’t played as tight defensively as we would’ve liked. And I think that’s something that’s going to be talked a lot about down the stretch.
“I thought we got contributions from throughout the lineup — no different than on the trip. I thought our third period was our best period.”
The Flames play the second game of their three-game home stand Wednesday night against the New York Islanders at the Saddledome (7:30 p.m., Sportsnet One/Sportsnet 960 The Fan).
To be a starter in this league, you’ve got to be consistent. That’s probably one thing that’s lacked early on in this season.