Rivalry is ‘just another game’ for goalie Smith

Mike Smith played two seasons with the Calgary Flames and produced a rock star-type performance in the post-season but, on Wednesday, he said starting against his old team was “just another game.”

Except it wasn’t.

The fact the soon-to-be 38-yearold was set to open the most-talked about clash in the National Hockey League, against the team that cast him aside last summer in favour of a different tandem this season, in a game that meant a pile in the Pacific Division standings, it was significant.

“A lot has been talked about, you guys (media) had your word for a long time now,” Smith said prior to the clash. “As players, I think we’re in the thick of things here and we want to worry about what we can control and that’s how we play tonight. All the extracurricular stuff will look after itself, I’m sure.”

The extracurricular “stuff” has been well-documented although Smith was sitting on the bench for it last time, when these teams steamrollered down the train tracks and aimed directly for each other.

Mikko Koskinen was between the pipes for the 4-3 Flames win on Jan. 11 at Scotiabank Saddledome. Oilers head coach Dave Tippett claimed he had that plan in mind all along, with Smith coming off a spectacular stretch on the road which saw Edmonton win three straight before arriving in Calgary.

The 6-foot-5, 220-pound puck stopper was part of a summertime trade in 2017 with the Arizona Coyotes that brought in Smith, at the time, as a bonafide No. 1 starting goalie. Smith played 96 games along with five post-season contests last spring.

Smith has been able to put together a respectable record as of late for the Oilers, a 12-9-3 posting before Wednesday’s game and a 2.96 goals-against average and .901 save percentage. Like he did in Calgary, the Kingston, Ont., native had his share of struggles and ups and downs.

One particularly low point was a run of 11 games in November and December where his save percentage dipped to .853.

But, fresh off the NHL all star break, this game was set to be Smith’s first full assignment against the Flames. Smith played briefly in the first Battle of Alberta on Dec. 27, a 5-1 Calgary win at Rogers Place when he relieved Koskinen late in the second period.

“It’s always fun to be part of a rivalry, that’s for sure,” Smith said. “It’s fun when you’re playing for something. We’re playing for keeps right now.”