EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON SMITH’S WOES
Between the aftermath of the U.S. midterm elections and rising Duke superstar Zion Williams, no one here was talking about Wednesday’s National Hockey League highlights.
Back home in Calgary though, there was a common theme.
And for the next few days, Mike Smith’s three goals allowed in Wednesday’s 3-2 Flames loss to the Anaheim Ducks — and the bigger picture surrounding the struggling 36-year-old netminder — will be fresh on everyone’s mind.
Don’t expect the Calgary Flames to publicly explain what is going on with Smith as their focus is on salvaging his confidence and dealing with matters internally. It’s a complicated scenario, given Calgary’s current goaltending landscape and Smith’s experience as a No. 1 netminder and trust-factor with Flames’ general manager Brad Treliving, the coaching staff and his teammates.
He’s the ultimate professional. He’s experienced. He’s likable. He’s a good teammate.
But whether you pay attention to the numbers or not, Smith’s are getting out of control. His 3.66 goals against average is the second-worst in the league while his .872 save percentage is the worst among goaltenders who have made more than 10 starts (prior to Thursday). He’s 5-5-1.
The thing is, 16 games into the season, there isn’t a simple solution like making a trade, putting Smith on waivers or deciding to go with backup and inexperienced David Rittich for the rest of the season (no matter how good the likable Czech’s numbers are).
And like it or not, there’s a good chance he’ll start Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings to try and play out of it, leaving Rittich to face the San Jose Sharks in the second half of the weekend’s back-to-back games.
Here’s what a couple of goaltending experts had to say.
Regarding his age, 36, and stage of his career.
Brent Krahn, former Flames netminder and Sportsnet 960 The Fan goaltending analyst: It is obviously coming to the tail end. When you compare him to guys like Ryan Miller, Roberto Luongo, Craig Anderson, guys who are older and as an athlete — 36 isn’t that old — but you’re creeping up there. It takes some time to understand where your game is at and to find your way. There is always people biting at your heels and it’s, ‘What have you done for me lately?’
Jamie McLennan, former Flames netminder and TSN goaltending analyst: “I’m not worried about that. Pekka Rinne won the Vezina at 35 years of age. People talk about the NHL being young. I would argue that veteran goaltenders are a lot better now because they can read the play and handle the rigours of the game mentally. In the net, you have to be mentally strong to handle a lot of things. The biggest challenge for Mike is the body. You need to be fresh and sharp.
Where is he struggling ?
Krahn: He’s a big man but he’s playing small. To me, he looks like he’s trying too hard. That’s a tough thing to get through. He wants to stop the puck so bad and when you’re playing well, you try the same but you let things come to you. He’s trying to force a better outcome for himself. He wants to be that guy, but he looks like he’s trapped in his own head a little bit. He’s thinking too much.
McLennan: Mike is at his best when he’s set on plays and not moving. When he gets moving, that opens up holes and he ends up reaching and a lot of times his balance is off and he’ll end up moving forward. A lot of that comes from comfort level in the net and getting into a groove and feeling comfortable. I thought he was brilliant in (Calgary’s 3-1 win at) Toronto. He had that pizzazz in his game where he fought for pucks and was good in traffic and looked set in a lot of plays.
What does his body language say right now?
Krahn: Every time he makes a save, it’s like he’s relieved. He knows he’s an elite goaltender in this league and he can still play, but it’s a mental game. You can tell he’s really hard on himself. You watch his body language and it’s negative. He looks very tense. When you’re a goaltender, you have to be loose and react to plays. He’s tight, he’s fighting, he’s trying so hard. But at the end of the day, he’s not getting the job done.
McLennan: What you have to do as a goaltender, especially as a starting goaltender in the league, is to have amnesia. He allows the Silfverberg goal down the wall — you can’t wear that. You could tell he was frustrated. I’m sure at first it flies through and he doesn’t really know, ‘Do I have it?’ ‘Don’t I?’ And then he hears the crowd’s reaction and thinks, ‘OK, I don’t have it.’ I thought his body language was fine. I didn’t dislike his game, but it was one of those nights where your starter needs to give you a chance to win.
How does he get his confidence back?
Krahn: It’s a reactive position and you can’t go out there and get involved and do anything to get yourself going. The puck is going to come to you and you have to react. He’s good enough to get himself out of this but he can’t get discouraged. He’s super intense and everyone loves how much he cares, but he has to find a way to take some of that pressure off. This is nothing he doesn’t know. but he needs to be big and needs to calm down and needs to let pucks come to him. McLennan: I think Mike is as tough as an athlete I’ve seen as far as handling the good and the bad. He has a rough outing ? He sits there and takes the questions. He gets it. A lot of it is working on the details of his game so it comes down to working with (Flames goaltending coach Jordan Sigalet). I’m sure he’s had stretches in his career where he’s been brilliant and stretches where he’s wanted to be better. For a goalie in the NHL, Mike Smith can’t work harder in the net. A forward can skate harder, hit harder, shoot harder. A goalie can’t stop the puck harder … to get back into a groove you have to play.
The Flames play L.A. on Saturday and San Jose on Sunday, who do you start? And what’s the long-term plan?
Krahn: Mike Smith has earned enough credit in this league that people know what he can do. They’re going to give him the benefit of the doubt every time until he gets himself going. He’s got enough equity built up in the bank with his coaches and teammates that know what he’s capable of. For me, in my opinion right now, the Flames are fortunate because they’ve been scoring a lot of goals. But I’d be going back and forth — one, then one, then one — just because he’s gotta get himself out of this. Rittich is playing great so you gotta go with the guy that’s hot, then, if Mike Smith really falls off a cliff here, it’s going to be Rittich’s net for a bit here. And maybe that’s what Mike Smith needs. He’s a competitive guy and it’ll burn you to have another guy in net. Maybe that’s the motivation he needs. McLennan: My mentality is the Calgary Flames’ success will be on the back of Mike Smith and Rittich. So, you have to have a tandem that can get it done. I believe Mike Smith can get it done and I believe Rittich can give them good minutes. The challenge with Rittich, the jury is out. Can he give you 30 games? If we’re going to play Smith 55 times, you need 27 games from somebody else. Rittich can play 27 games but are they going to be good games. The Flames are a playoff team but they need stability in net and that stems from Smith.