Mike Smith gives up horrific 132-foot goal
Veteran netminder Mike Smith has been absolutely fantastic for the Oilers in their series against the Calgary Flames, holding the Oilers in it and sporting a sparkling .933 SV% heading into Tuesday night's pivotal Game 4.
Smith said earlier this week that it's important to him to outplay Calgary's Jacob Markstrom, as Markstrom was the one who the Flames replaced him with. His goal in this series is to out-duel Markstrom at every turn. Markstrom makes a cross crease save, Smith makes a better one, Marstrom makes a glove save, Smith makes a better one. Markstrom allows a horrific goal? Smith allows an even worse one.
With the Flames trailing 3-2 in the third period and also shorthanded, defenseman Rasmus Andersson got ahold of the puck in his own end. Being short handed, the smart play is obviously to fire the puck down the ice immediately. Andersson managed to get the puck on net and Smith just, kind of, missed it? He threw his hands up, seemingly angry at his defensemen for something. Perhaps he didn't see the puck coming because they were standing in the way? Whatever happened, Smith was in no way prepared for a shot on goal, especially one from the far blue line.
On a goal like this, we need multiple angles.
As a Leafs fan, the name Vesa Toskala instantly came to mind. The former Leafs netminder allowed a very similar goal over a decade ago that still haunts me to this day.
The only similar goal I can recall in the playoffs is the infamous Martin Brodeur dropped stick goal during the 2003 Stanley Cup Final.
Smith and the Oilers would get the last laugh though, as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins would bury a rebound with 3 minutes to go before Evander Kane sealed it with an empty netter. The Oilers now have a commanding 3-1 series lead heading back to Calgary.
