Northside_Dan wrote:
It's not like it was some 3rd string bum they were playing. Dude is an Canadian Olympian and almost single handed dragged them to the WCF a few years back, bad season at all.
Third-string goalie for Team Canada who didn't play a single minute behind Price and Luongo. And while he did have a career year in 2012, that team still had a few meaningful contributors and a stifling defensive shell like we saw last night. Smith has been completely exposed as a system goalie this year without elite zone defense in front of him: he's been unable to keep his save percentage above the NHL Mendoza Line of .900 over the year (last night's game pumped him up to .899). Let's gaze, if we dare, at some of the games he's had as of late:
2/28 @ Boston: 16/20, pulled at 31:50
2/24 @ Long Island: 34/39
2/14 v. New York: 27/32
1/31 @ Ottawa: 15/20, pulled at 42:15
1/6 v. St. Louis: 33/39
12/22 @ Vancouver: 7/11, pulled at 21:39
We should have added to that list.
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Molly Lambert wrote:
The future holds the possibility to be great or terrible, and since it has not yet occurred it remains simultaneously both.