Calgary Flames Daily: Mike Smith finally owns up to poor performance

The Calgary Flames played a great game against the Montreal Canadiens, but were unfortunately sunken by a bad late-game goal by Mike Smith.

Yet another game where the Calgary Flames badly outplay their opponents and get sunken by some poor goaltending. They outshot the Montreal Canadiens last night 45-22 and outplayed them at even-strength in every period. Unfortunately, some bad luck, some posts, and a Carey Price in the way and the Flames lost this one 3-2. However, it didn’t look like this would be the result.

With less than eight minutes to go in a tie-game, the Canadiens went down the other way, and a very weak and soft shot by Artturi Lehkonen somehow got past Mike Smith and their fate was sealed.

At least Smith finally accepted blame for the game, something he has yet to do.

Via Calgary Sun:

"“Bad goal,” said Smith, shaking his head. “Bad goal, bad timing. I honestly have no idea how that went in. That was obviously a goal that can’t happen. I’m as mind-boggled as you guys are right now.”“It’s obviously disappointing,” Smith said. “When you feel like you’ve let your team down, it’s probably the biggest frustration, disappointment that can ever happen in your career when you feel like you’ve dropped the ball. Our team played such a great game, and we felt like we deserved a lot better fate. When something happens like that and it’s on you, it’s disappointing.“You feel like you’ve let your whole team down.”"

Some may say that it’s hard not to feel bad for him, but when this continually happens almost every single game he starts, it’s hard to feel bad for him. Travis Hamonic feels otherwise, though.

"“You ever have a bad day at work?” snapped a furious Travis Hamonic, coming to the defence of his teammate. “There you go. Not to jump on your question like that, but it’s not fair at all. Everyone that is going to say that has bad days at work, too.“That’s not fair.”"

I mean, I agree that everyone gets to have a bad day at work and everyone does. But the problem here is that every single day at work for Smith is a bad day basically. If this was the equivalent of me at my job, I’d have been fired long ago.

The good news for the team is that David Rittich will get the start for tomorrow’s game against the Edmonton Oilers. Let’s just hope the Calgary Flames show up too.

Some links surrounding the Flames

Habs edge Flames on stinker goal (Calgary Sun).

Mike Smith lets down Flames as early struggles continue (Sportsnet).

Domi has been dangerous for Habs, could Flames’ Bennett follow that lead? (Calgary Sun).

Return delayed for Flames rookie Dube (Calgary Sun).

Some links surrounding hockey and the NHL

Skills coach Pavel Barber breaks down the NHL’s top 10 stickhandlers (Sportsnet).

NHL.com players poll: Toughest rink to play in (NHL.com).

Meet the future of hockey, 13-year-old Connor Bedard (The Hockey News).

That’s all in today’s Flames Daily!