Todd Cordell: Flames don't miss a beat in blowout win over Kings

"Since the trade deadline, CGY Derek Ryan has been on the ice for 17 Flames goals at 5v5... and 0 goals against. In over 209 minutes of icetime!!!"

That is amazing ! And it sure seems like Mike Smith will be the starter. He's been fine lately so we'll see how far he can take it.

Thx Todd, yes it was a very entertaining game. Cheap shot on Benny,clean but cheap.

This might be Calgary's year. The Flames are playing great and they're getting bounces going their way. That's an awesome combination. Also, how dejected was Quick last night? That dude just quit on them, he wouldn't even skate over to the bench during TV time outs! Gotta feeling he's gone next year.

Valamaki looks like he barely missed a beat. He's my choice for #6 D-man for the start of playoffs.
Stone struggled. Kylington had ups and downs but his ups outnumbered the downs. He's going to be a good one in the years to come. Prout had the same up/down game but more downs than ups, I thought.
I liked Riddich's game. Calm and focused. But he needs to stop trying to be Mike Smith 2.0 in the puck-playing department. Pick your spots, but stay in the net otherwise.

I think that Peters is going to start Smith for playoffs. Hopefully the team can continue to outscore his poor passing choices and the flopping around saves.

I really think they're ready to go on a long run (provided Mike Smith isn't the starter). With last night's win, they've all but officially locked up home ice for the entirety of it – barring a June date with Tampa Bay, of course. But I'm sure everyone would happily sign up for that.

Brace yourself for Hunk's defence of Smith

Agreed. It's an exciting year and it really feels like the team will go as far as their starter will let them. To me that's Rittich.

Any word on Sam Bennett? I was really starting to like his game

Brace yourself for Hunk's defence of Smith

Agreed. It's an exciting year and it really feels like the team will go as far as their starter will let them. To me that's Rittich.
- LittleBroDougie

Todd might be trolling hunk ! Hehe.

Everyone needs to relax on Smith, he's outplayed Rittich over the last couple months and he saves the D so much wear and tear.

Yes Smith has made a few giveaways but if you have never played with an elite puck handling goalie as a defencemen... its unbelievable. The added time for breakouts, and the energy saved hustling all the way back and you never get touched. Hes probably had a big part in keeping the Flames D healthy all year and allows them to conserve energy allowing the to activate a lot more often.

Smith is the best choice.

I would say the flames should take their chances with Smith. Yes I hate him too but hes hot enough right now so let him ride. BSD is a good backup anyway and primed for next year without smith if no one comes in.

Everyone needs to relax on Smith, he's outplayed Rittich over the last couple months and he saves the D so much wear and tear.

Yes Smith has made a few giveaways but if you have never played with an elite puck handling goalie as a defencemen... its unbelievable. The added time for breakouts, and the energy saved hustling all the way back and you never get touched. Hes probably had a big part in keeping the Flames D healthy all year and allows them to conserve energy allowing the to activate a lot more often.

Smith is the best choice.
-Jaybird14

Agree with you that he can give us an advantage.
But the thing that frustrates the hell out of me is how he often seems to hold on to the puck a fraction too long until the F is right on top of the D who ends up unable to pass and gets trapped in the corner.
Imagine if he could get it to the D and they could make a quick breakout pass to Gaudreau or Bennett or Jankowski at the offensive blue line.
Imo, it could totally change how the other team defends if he could do it a bit faster.

No Problems going with Smith. He has played well last 10 games or so. He is the guy with experience. But that being said I would not give him that long of a leash.

Everyone needs to relax on Smith, he's outplayed Rittich over the last couple months and he saves the D so much wear and tear.

Yes Smith has made a few giveaways but if you have never played with an elite puck handling goalie as a defencemen... its unbelievable. The added time for breakouts, and the energy saved hustling all the way back and you never get touched. Hes probably had a big part in keeping the Flames D healthy all year and allows them to conserve energy allowing the to activate a lot more often.

Smith is the best choice.
- Jaybird14

He has a sub .900 save percentage

@todd

Enough on the Smith bashing.

If you exclude October for both guys, where Rittich played out of his mind, and Smith was in the gutter, the plain fact is that these guys have played on par throughout the rest of the season. Smith has a better GAA (2.50 vs 2.67) and Rittich owns the (slightly) better save percentage (.907 vs .904).

This isn't an impassioned Smith defense, there should be logic thrust into the argument, as both guys have been OK goalies for the better part of the season. I'm not forgiving Smith's first month, but you also can't get so overhyped by BSD's October that you ignore the rest of the season.

Our goaltending, on the whole, is pretty much average and it's basically a coin flip going into the 1st round

He has a sub .900 save percentage
- ToddCordellCGY

What does that have to do with anything? You can't be that dense that you think Smith playing awful for the first few months of the season has any relevance now. Is St. Louis a garbage team because they were last in the league in January?

Smith has turned his game around and has been clearly the better goalie since the San Jose game where Rittich was pulled. How do you spin 2 or fewer goals allowed in 10 of his last 12 games as being not good enough? If you look at it even further, he let in a late goal at the end of a blowout where both teams had given up in his last game, and was a big reason they won the Pittsburgh game.

So one bad game in his last 14. He's been as good as anyone for the last month and a half.

Go blog for a team that you watch more than just highlights. Actually, you don't even need to watch. Since you only understand stats, go look up Rittich and Smith's save percentage since the all-star break. Which one is above .900 and which one is below?

Or if you'd prefer more completely irrelevant stats, Smith has a career .912 save percentage to Rittich's .909.

Smith has been the better goalie and had earned the playoff starts.

Word is Fox won't sign in Carolina. Where's Bingo??

Smith has been the better goalie and had earned the playoff starts.

Word is Fox won't sign in Carolina. Where's Bingo??
- roocifer

Sounds like they are exploring trade for a pick/prospect out of Rangers camp

Any word on Sam Bennett? I was really starting to like his game
- waitforawhistle

Nothing "official" though Peters said "they dodged a bullet" and he'll play in one of the two remaining games.

Yea I've been on the Rittich train all season
but gotta admit Smith has upped his game recently and now I'm fairly confident with either goalie for the start of the playoffs...then we'll go from there I guess

Love the depth at d going into the playoffs

Love the bottom six play

Goalies have been pretty solid

If the top two lines catch fire we are headed for a deep run

What does that have to do with anything? You can't be that dense that you think Smith playing awful for the first few months of the season has any relevance now. Is St. Louis a garbage team because they were last in the league in January?

Smith has turned his game around and has been clearly the better goalie since the San Jose game where Rittich was pulled. How do you spin 2 or fewer goals allowed in 10 of his last 12 games as being not good enough? If you look at it even further, he let in a late goal at the end of a blowout where both teams had given up in his last game, and was a big reason they won the Pittsburgh game.

So one bad game in his last 14. He's been as good as anyone for the last month and a half.

Go blog for a team that you watch more than just highlights. Actually, you don't even need to watch. Since you only understand stats, go look up Rittich and Smith's save percentage since the all-star break. Which one is above .900 and which one is below?

Or if you'd prefer more completely irrelevant stats, Smith has a career .912 save percentage to Rittich's .909.
- Hunkulese

(frank) me, there's the pot calling the kettle black...

Smith has been the better goalie and had earned the playoff starts.

Word is Fox won't sign in Carolina. Where's Bingo??
- roocifer

Right here.

Right here.
- BINGO!

Hey Bingo!! best of luck to your team come playoffs!

Hey Bingo!! best of luck to your team come playoffs!
- Squilliam-

Yeah man, hoping you guys can pull off some magic.

(frank) me, there's the pot calling the kettle black...
- geta02it

I don't think you understand what that expression means.