Mike Schmitz spent 13 minutes sharing his thoughts on the game, putting Oilers ahead 5 – 5, as he successfully challenged the guests’ central defenders, then placed the ball unreachably at the keeper’s right post.
Smith turns 40 in five days. He is very confident and who he is. The season did not go as he had hoped, but he did not feel sorry for himself and he does not sound like someone who lacks confidence.
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Smith has to believe in himself, because if he does not, the game is lost before it starts. Confidence is everything in professional sports. It’s more important than skill, because if you do not believe in your skill, you’re unlikely to perform well.
“I’m not really worried about things that have already happened,” Smith said at the start of his press conference. “I’m just focusing on the game. That’s it. I’m not looking too far ahead. I’m feeling good right now. I’ve been working hard on my game with Schwarty (goalie coach Dustin Schwartz).”
While Smith is working on his game, that does not mean any major changes in his approach.
“There will be no overhaul of your game during the season, especially with the time I was in this league. Early (in your career) you can make adjustments. I kept my gloves on when I played junior. That was a big adjustment for me to try to fix that.But that was a summer job.That was a three, four month period to try to put it on the puck.
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“At this point in my career, I will no longer be a stand-up goaltender. I will not make drastic changes. That will take time to make those adjustments.
“Are there small things to work on? One hundred percent. There are always things to work on. When you think you found this position, you burn yourself out pretty quickly. It’s such a unique position because things always change. Power plays. change, there is always reading you need to change and develop with.
“Are there any adjustments? Of course there always have been, but I’m not reinventing the wheel. There are little things that … maybe it’s a feeling that makes you feel more confident or Pucks can come to you a little more, but nothing catastrophic, “said Smith.
The last line about a feeling caught my ear. Goalkeepers have to trust their instincts and their movement patterns. Former NHLer and current Daily Faceoff goalie analyst Mike McKenna pointed out how Smith and Reverse VH went on low-angle shots. It was not right. McKenna added that it may have shown that Smith did not trust himself. Good play and fight can sometimes be a very thin line, and for Smith he has been on the fight side too often this year.
Can he find the way back to the game good side? He thinks he can and hopes to take a step along this line tonight.
LINE UP…
Oilers
Kane – McDavid – Yamamoto
Hyman – Draisaitl – Puljujarvi
Foegele – Shore – Ryan
Archibald – McLeod – Kassian
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Nurse – Cecil
Keith – Bouchard
Russell – Barrie
Schmitz
Three new faces are in line-up tonight. Kris Russell plays his first game since January 29, Jesse Puljujarvi his first since February 17 and Smith plays his first since March 5. Puljujarvi and Smith are energetic and vocal personalities who contribute some emotion to the team. Russell is quiet, but should be a good addition to the penalty shootout.
“Every time you bring NHL players back into a lineup, it’s a good thing,” said Jay Woodcroft. “It creates competition for the ice age.”
Puljujarvi’s return hit McLeod in the lineup, but McLeod will still see time on the second PP unit and on penalties.
Saber…
Skinner – Thompson – Cloth
Cancer – Cozens – Hinostroza
Asplund – Mittelstadt – Olofsson
Girgensons – Eakin – Okposo
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Dahlin – Jokiharju
Samuelsson – Psychic
Bryson – Miller
Anderson
Craig Anderson (40 years, 301 days) and Smith (39, 360 days) are not the oldest starting goalscorers to confront in a game. On November 22, 1972, Jacques Plante of Toronto (43,310 days) faced Gump Worsley of the North Stars (43,192).
The oldest goalkeeper matchup in the 2000s took place on March 29, 2012 when Martin Brodeur (39, 328) and the Devils played against Dwayne Roloson (42, 169) and Lightning. But Anderson and Smith is a unique starting goalie battle.
Tonight, Anderson’s 633th start and Smith’s 634th. Anderson has a career average of .913 Sv% and Smith is .912. They started 37th and 38th each time in games.
THE EVENING…
SPILL DAY PREDICTION: Oilers end three-game losing streak in Buffalo with a 4-2 victory.
OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: McDavid picks up the 201st multi-point game of his career.
NET-SOU-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Smith plays well, finishing with + .920sv% and the discussion turns to him starting New Jersey Saturday afternoon.
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