Flames’ Goaltending Still in Question as Playoffs Draw Near
For the Calgary Flames, it seemed like the issue was put to bed ages ago. Not only was netminder Mike Smith finally hitting his stride, but newbie goalie David Rittich…
Flames Goaltending
Flames’ Smith Seizing Latest Opportunity
Every NHL campaign produces a slew of story lines and there’s no doubt that the 2018-19 saga for Calgary Flames’ netminder Mike Smith has already featured multiple chapters. In a…
Rittich Emerging as One of Flames’ Brightest Stars
The breakout campaign for David Rittich shows no signs of slowing as the talented 26-year-old has not only entrenched himself as the top goaltending option for the Calgary Flames, but…
Flames Options for Replacing Smith
The 2018-19 Calgary Flames are a terrific scoring team whose most likely fatal weakness remains in net. Namely, they need a more reliable backup or “1B” goalie than 36-year-old Mike…
Smith’s Return to Form a Welcome Sight for Flames
While fans of the Calgary Flames certainly had a right to be quite concerned about the early season struggles of No. 1 goaltender Mike Smith, the good news is that…
Flames Still Searching for a Good Starter
On Sunday, Calgary Flames goalie Mike Smith helped lead his team to a 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, his third straight win. However, there is still little reason to think…
Smith’s Struggles Open Door for Rittich
The Calgary Flames made a lot of moves during the 2018 off-season, touching upon nearly every area of their roster. They raised a few eyebrows when they didn’t address their…
Controversy in the Calgary Crease?
Is there a goalie controversy brewing in Calgary? If not, should there be? The question wasn’t relevant when the season started, with Calgary Flames goaltender Mike Smith as the clear-cut…
Flames Season Hinges on Defensive Zone Success
There’s an old joke in hockey: “Goaltending is 50% of the game unless you don’t get it, then it’s 90% of the game.” Since the retirement of Miikka Kiprusoff in…
Flames Need Net Depth for Season Success
The Calgary Flames missed the postseason in 2017-18 and did so due to the conflation of several smaller challenges that snowballed on them. While no one factor caused their season…
Projecting Flames 2018-19 Opening Night Roster: Goalies & Defense
The Calgary Flames had high hopes for the 2017-18 season after loading up the prior summer with high-price talent. Unfortunately their season disappointed, and that disappointment has led to another…
The Importance of Mike Smith
On June 17, 2017, Mike Smith was acquired by the Calgary Flames from the Arizona Coyotes for goaltender Chad Johnson, defense prospect Brandon Hickey and a conditional third-round pick. At…