Canadiens 3, Flames 2 post-game embers: Enough

The Flames can’t keep fighting Mike Smith in addition to another NHL team and expect to win.

This is the state we’re in now: whenever Smith starts a game, it’s just waiting for the shoe to drop (or, less metaphorically, for the bad goal to go in). Against the Sharks, it took 50 seconds; against the Habs, eight minutes. That was after some back-and-forth action, and though the Flames did their best to tie the game up, they just couldn’t get the bounces to go their way.

At least not until the second period, when Matthew Tkachuk scored twice, giving some hope for the Flames’ powerplay and a nice finish to some dominating even strength play later in the frame. All the Flames had to do was hold on for 20 minutes.

Or, rather, all Smith had to do was hold on for 20 minutes. He couldn’t do that. The Flames got off to a bad start to the third – Montreal dictated the play, as one would probably expect from a team in greater need of a goal – and eventually, they made it count. Just a few minutes later, Smith gave up perhaps an even worse goal than the first, and for as much as the Flames pressed and pushed, they couldn’t beat Carey Price.

It’s almost as if having a goalie who can make basic saves is crucial. The Flames didn’t have that.

The penalty kill was perfect for the fourth game in a row. The Flames have killed off 14 straight penalties; the last time they gave up a powerplay goal was on a five-on-three. Not just that the penalty kill was perfect, but it was aggressive as well: any time you can create scoring chances when down a man is pretty fantastic overall. Mikael Backlund and Elias Lindholm look like a great forward pair on the kill, as do Michael Frolik and Mark Jankowski.

The powerplay was perfect, too. Granted, the Flames only had the one chance – one whole more chance than they had against the Sharks (anyone notice how the puck over the glass is a penalty again? Neat!) – but Tkachuk made it count. Not just that, though. Via Ryan, the Flames’ first unit has outscored the second unit 12-0 on the powerplay, which is a whole other “bad news” thing on its own, but the second unit didn’t look like a disaster. Tkachuk got the goal on the first unit, but the second unit was threatening before he came on the ice, too. Progress.

Tkachuk scored twice, and was dangerous the entire night. He’s still only 20 years old and on his entry-level contract. There will be more on him in numbers of note, but check it: he’s the Flames’ leading scorer now.

The top line – and Johnny Gaudreau in particular – looked dangerous throughout the night, and were particularly unlucky not to score. After a quiet few games on the road trip, it’s good to see this team coming back to life on the offensive side of things; just a shame they couldn’t make it count more.

At least they didn’t allow an empty netter?

Look, you can’t be given your one or two softies per game and expect to win. Sure, you can point fingers at the defence. And the second goal against was kind of a cluster. But at some point – and this isn’t a new concept at all – you have to make the save. Smith can no longer do that, at least not dependently. He has not put together two good games in a row since January. He has dressed in 26 games since then. He is singlehandedly killing this team. It’s not showing in the standings right now, but if this keeps up, at some point it probably will.

Any other problems the Flames have will pale in comparison until they figure out a way to fix the goaltending. At this stage, a trade is probably going to be the only option. And dealing from a position of weakness partway through the season is going to be tough.

58.72% – The Flames’ 5v5 CF in this one. They deserved to win.

.864% – Smith’s save percentage in this one. He’s at a .876% on the season. This is not an anomaly. This is who he is now. It has been 19 games: almost a full quarter of the season. How much longer is this going to be tolerated? And is it going to be too late regardless?

26 – The number of shots Backlund, Tkachuk, Gaudreau, and Sean Monahan had. The entire Canadiens team put up 22. This is pathetic, and the Flames deserve better. Sure, they probably should have scored more themselves, but the other guy in a net was doing his job.

21 – Tkachuk’s points on the season, giving him sole possession of first place on the Flames. He also leads the way with nine goals scored, tied with Monahan and Lindholm. Gaudreau, Monahan, and Lindholm are all tied for second place in team scoring with 19 points, which is a hell of a line in its own right; the Flames have four amazing forwards and the oldest among them is 25 years old.

18.5% + 77.0% – The Flames’ powerplay and penalty kill percentages on the season, good for 18th and 22nd in the league, respectively. Slowly but surely, they’re pulling themselves up from special teams hell. Hopefully that trend continues, but there was a lot to like in this game from that angle.

70% – Sam Bennett’s 5v5 CF when playing alongside Backlund and Tkachuk. It’s a line that should maybe stick together; Bennett seems to have had some of his best moments when on Backlund’s line, and they’re a good couple of players to try to break out of a snakebitten funk with. He certainly doesn’t hurt.

100% – On the other hand, and extremely small sample size (just a couple of minutes) alert, but James Neal had a far superior 5v5 corsi when away from Jankowski and Austin Czarnik. I almost do wonder if it’s worth it to split Lindholm from the top line and let him be in charge of his own line while Neal tries to make things work with Gaudreau and Monahan…? I honestly don’t know. That’s a top line that’s gelling beautifully, but on the other hand, the Flames are supposed to have increased forward depth and need something to get their bottom six contributing. Maybe Lindholm can do it. Or maybe it’s hopeless.

David Rittich can’t start the remaining 60+ games for the Flames. Barring going with three goalies on the roster, demoting Smith, or trading him away, Smith is going to be on the Flames no matter what, and that means he’s going to get at least some starts no matter what. But the Flames should be cleanly leading the division at this stage of the season, and they aren’t, and it’s way, way too often you can point to just one guy for the loss of so many points.

I’m sure it sucks a lot for Smith, a person who’s nearing the end of his limited career window and almost certainly has a lot of pride that’s taking a beating right now. But you know who it sucks even more for? The other 18 guys on the ice. And I feel for them way more.