Todd Cordell: Maple Leafs 6, Flames 2: Five observations from a somewhat deceiving loss

Freddie was simply Nails last night. He straight up robbed a couple of Flames with point blank saves. And a couple of those Leaf goals... puhleeeze ..
Still think Flames don't get past Vegas with either Rittich or Smith against the Flower.

Freddie was simply Nails last night. He straight up robbed a couple of Flames with point blank saves. And a couple of those Leaf goals... puhleeeze ..
Still think Flames don't get past Vegas with either Rittich or Smith against the Flower.
- dozerD10

oh ya. perfect storm, freddie on fire and bounces going the leafs way on the goals.

a 7 game series between these two teams would be amazing hockey to watch.

New rink announcement before playoffs? 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

https://globalnews.ca/new...-hockey-arena-fieldhouse/

Thanks for the blog Todd!

I hope you're right that they start Rittich again
they need to give him confidence and work on a bounce back game (not that the score was his fault)

no-save dave (frank)ed sh!t up.

but its surprising backlund isn't getting more press about the selke this year. Stone, Bergy and Sid are having great years, but Backlund is a beast this year in terms of EVS production, defensive ZS%, and 5v5 performance. It would be a travesty if he doesn't finish top 3 in voting.

Freddie was simply Nails last night. He straight up robbed a couple of Flames with point blank saves. And a couple of those Leaf goals... puhleeeze ..
Still think Flames don't get past Vegas with either Rittich or Smith against the Flower.
- dozerD10

Freddie was dialed in last night and Ennis 2nd goal ... what can I say as well as Marner's goal. Even Hyman's 1st goal, I did not think it would count. All in all, it was a good game.

Lines at practice today...

Gaudreau-Monahan-Tkachuk
Mangiapane-Backlund-Lindholm
Bennett-Jankowski-Czarnik
Frolik-Ryan-Hathaway
Lazar

Giordano-Andersson
Hanifin-Hamonic
Brodie-Prout
Fantenberg-Kylington

Rittich
Smith

Not crazy on having Chucky and Mony on the same line. That 2nd line could be great though.

Lines at practice today...

Gaudreau-Monahan-Tkachuk
Mangiapane-Backlund-Lindholm
Bennett-Jankowski-Czarnik
Frolik-Ryan-Hathaway
Lazar

Giordano-Andersson
Hanifin-Hamonic
Brodie-Prout
Fantenberg-Kylington

Rittich
Smith

Not crazy on having Chucky and Mony on the same line. That 2nd line could be great though.
- jessehub

Glad to see Frolik moved down he's been a passenger the last few games. Where's our #1 fan, Clyde? Hopefully someone took all the knives out of the house.

Stone to Stockton for a conditioning stint

Glad to see Frolik moved down he's been a passenger the last few games. Where's our #1 fan, Clyde? Hopefully someone took all the knives out of the house.
- K-man25

Sure, give Rittich the ball. But it's also been 2 years in a row that he's started out hot then dropped off significantly once the "starter" label was thrown at him.

Andersen is what the Flames are missing. We need a decisive young starter. This team has 89 points with below average goaltending which is nuts. We have the first, we have an expendable defence man (Brodie), and we have B prospects. Let's get that final piece so we can move into Tampa territory.

I think BT was seeing the same trend which made him skeptical to trade the farm for a scorer. We have a good top-6 (albeit cold) and a capable bottom-6. Defence corps has 3 young guys fighting their way in. Goaltending is a concern and if that's addressed this summer, then the Flames will have 2-3 fantastic years ahead of them.

GFG

Sure, give Rittich the ball. But it's also been 2 years in a row that he's started out hot then dropped off significantly once the "starter" label was thrown at him.

Andersen is what the Flames are missing. We need a decisive young starter. This team has 89 points with below average goaltending which is nuts. We have the first, we have an expendable defence man (Brodie), and we have B prospects. Let's get that final piece so we can move into Tampa territory.

I think BT was seeing the same trend which made him skeptical to trade the farm for a scorer. We have a good top-6 (albeit cold) and a capable bottom-6. Defence corps has 3 young guys fighting their way in. Goaltending is a concern and if that's addressed this summer, then the Flames will have 2-3 fantastic years ahead of them.

GFG
- LittleBroDougie

It's only Rittich's 2nd year in the League and he's learning how to be a starter. That is going to come with some rocky stretches. Besides, he could be just lights out in the playoffs. BT was fine with our tandem at the deadline so let's see what they can do down the stretch.

It's only Rittich's 2nd year in the League and he's learning how to be a starter. That is going to come with some rocky stretches. Besides, he could be just lights out in the playoffs. BT was fine with our tandem at the deadline so let's see what they can do down the stretch.
- Helios

I wouldn’t say BT was “fine” with our goalies but just there was nothing better available.

I wouldn’t say BT was “fine” with our goalies but just there was nothing better available.
- Clyde334

Anything and I mean anything is better than Mike Smith

We could throw Mike Vernon in net.

We could throw Mike Vernon in net.
- FlamesFan1230

My kids free???

Anyone know anything about N. Schneider who's played 11 games with the Heat with a 2.45 average. A small sample size compared to Gillies and Parsons but it looks like they have went to the goaltending of Mike Smith.

Anyone know anything about N. Schneider who's played 11 games with the Heat with a 2.45 average. A small sample size compared to Gillies and Parsons but it looks like they have went to the goaltending of Mike Smith.
- FlamesFan1230

Schneider played in the dub last team was the Hitman. Free agent signing.

Those damn 6 goals stopping possession

I wouldn't give up on Rittich just yet

2 nice shots
2 terrible bounces
2 terrible goals

Sure he could have played better and it would have been 4-2...other guy was absolutely standing on his head, it happens

Anyone know anything about N. Schneider who's played 11 games with the Heat with a 2.45 average. A small sample size compared to Gillies and Parsons but it looks like they have went to the goaltending of Mike Smith.
- FlamesFan1230

We've had him in the organization for years despite him only being 21 and undrafted. Even got him the #1 role on the Hitmen when Medicine Hat had a goalie start to take his place.

Gillies is also averaging well above .915 in his last 6 starts. Just food for thought.

Smith's last game you could see the confidence building in him until 2 big Gaf's with playing the puck (Not saying it was all his fault either on those Gaf's) then an open shot for a goal he should have had.

Rittich had some weird bounces go against him in that last game but that caused him some shaky game play after that.

The test will be which guy bounces back and which guy do you get behind for the playoffs.

I would say Rittich should be our guy with Smith backing up. I would be giving the lion share of the starts to Rittich for the remaining games of the regular season to see how he bounces back.

We've had him in the organization for years despite him only being 21 and undrafted. Even got him the #1 role on the Hitmen when Medicine Hat had a goalie start to take his place.

Gillies is also averaging well above .915 in his last 6 starts. Just food for thought.
- fry

Gillies has played 12 NHL games so far. He’s had some good games and bad. 12 is not enough to determine what he is and next year I hope they give him a chance before going out and getting someone else. His recent play in Stockton shows promise.

Giordano was asked at practice on Tuesday whether the goalies should stay in the crease:

"“Strongly disagree,” Giordano said. “Especially with Smitty, we have one of the best in the league – if not the best in the league – at making plays and breaking out the puck and as a d-man we peel off to the corner.
“If you really look at the numbers, we probably break the puck out clean 100 times in a row before something goes wrong with Smitty in there. He’s honestly the best I’ve ever played with as far as playing the pucks and stopping pucks and we need that. That’s a huge part of transition … We want him to come out and play every puck that he can because he’s so good at it.”

https://nationalpost.com/...33-4699-994e-e0ae30d16579