 |
 K.McC#24
Messages: 2827
Registered: March 2004
Location: ALBERTA
2 Cups
|
|
| Adam wrote on Sat, 13 March 2021 23:53 |
| K.McC#24 wrote on Sat, 13 March 2021 22:43 |
Goalie win for Van. Demko with some big stops and didnt get the more routine one from Koski. Not sure how the ref had sight of the 1st Van goal, or how a stick actually pushed it in. I thought the Oil had the bigger chances.
The next game is huge, and Koskinen will NOT be the starter.
|
I think Koskinen should have had the second one, but he's not really to blame for the loss. Just one of those nights where the team deserved better. Demko had an out of body experience and channeled his last year's playoffs for an evening.
Interesting stat I saw from Bruce McCurdy today - since Smith's return, save percentage for Koskinen has been the same as Smith's. Won't be any worse after tonight. While Seravalli is nominating Smith for the Vezina, it's worth remembering he's had 7 of his 11 starts against non-playoff teams.
I am terrified that the Oilers management can't see this and just figures that Smith really worked on his craft and he's now a Vezina calibre goalie and they don't need help in the crease.
|
I don't think anyone is saying Smith should be the LT starter, and even the Oilers are not that deluded. My take is that he has completely filled the role as backup. Ideally we'd see a prospect there legitimately with upside to take the starter position, last time that happened it of course was rushed and mishandled with a failure of a lineup in front of the guy, and he didn't really perform until he left to a D first team.
Shouldn't have to lean on Smith as the backup this hard. I'm hoping that the Oilers don't see themselves as set with Smith because their starter that they signed as such is unable to deliver. The Oilers don't really make the glaring errors game after game any more on D and general zone coverage that always end up in the net, they need to be able to win the close games. Goaltending is the priority, Smith is great I think for 30% of the load but not 60 to 80%. Improve on the starter and get a guy that won't really give a reason to give Smith more than the odd sniff.
There's GSAx that shows Smith at 6.9, 3rd in the league, an Koski at -5.4. Koskininen is a bit better at stopping high danger chances. The Oilers need to end a debate between their paid starter and the nearly 40 backup, probably by upgrading at starter.
If Demko had an out of body experience, that's a goalie win.
|
|
|
|
