Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos
The Edmonton Oilers fell at house to the Colorado Avalanche 4-2 in Sport 3 of the Western Convention Finals on Saturday at Rogers Place, and followers aren’t pleased with the play of goaltender Mike Smith.
After the Oilers tied the sport 2-2 within the third interval on a objective from Ryan McLeod, Avs ahead J.T. Compher scored what went on to be the game-winning objective simply minutes later.
After Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard rung a shot off the submit on the facility play, Compher raced out of the penalty field, fended off Bouchard to seize the puck and fired it previous Smith from the dot.
It is a shot that Smith seemingly ought to have stopped. As a substitute, the puck squeaked by means of his legs and trickled into the again of the web.
Hockey Evening in Canada @hockeynight
J. T. Compher jumps out of the penalty field and provides the Avalanche the lead once more 🚨pic.twitter.com/AnmIrGWonN
Shayna @hayyyshayyy
There is no such thing as a center floor with Mike Smith. It’s straight up sizzling or chilly.
Travis Yost @travisyost
Mike Smith’s gonna finish the postseason with probably the most inexplicable .920 I can ever recall. I received’t even consider the quantity.
Scott McLaughlin @smclaughlin9
Mike Smith simply cannot let that in. What an absolute backbreaker.
Leafs Received a Lot of Respect within the Handshake Line @Pulped_
Think about somebody putting Connor McDavid’s profession in your fingers and the very best reply you possibly can come again with is Mike Smith for 2 years?
NICK SUZUKI’S NOSE @NickSuzukisNose
i really feel horrible for the oilers. mike smith is so unhealthy they received’t be going wherever till they eliminate him
Nick Campano @nooch99
Mike Smith strikes once more…you possibly can’t win within the playoffs with goaltending like that…solely a matter of time. As Patrick Roy as soon as stated…”it’s not those you cease that depend it’s those you let in.” Amen. #Fact
mitch marney @marnylandersen
my favorite factor about Mike Smith is how he at all times appears to be like round angrily after a objective as if he was prevented from making the save by a vengeful spirit solely he can see
B/R Open Ice @BR_OpenIce
The Mike Smith Expertise: pic.twitter.com/Ns2T69FzmS
BlownTree-1Lead @UrinatingTree
The Mike Smith keepeth you within the recreation and the Mike Smith giveth up among the softest targets recognized to man. The best enigma.
Matt Maisel @Matt_Maisel
Mike Smith has given up two of the worst targets I’ve ever seen from an NHL goalie on this postseason.
s😎 @sarahhthetaurus
Mike Smith simply completely ruining this collection for the oilers
Smith, as many followers have put it, has been a rollercoaster for the Oilers this postseason. He has made some unbelievable saves, however he has additionally let in some dreadful targets and will finally be the rationale Edmonton fails to achieve the Stanley Cup Remaining.
Smith entered Saturday’s recreation with an 8-4 report within the postseason, together with a .916 save share and two shutouts. Nevertheless, he hasn’t been nice towards the Avs, posting a .846 save share over the primary two video games of the collection. And although he saved 39-of-42 photographs (.929 save share) in Sport 3, he did not make crucial cease of the evening.
If the Oilers are going to increase this collection, they are going to want Smith to play extra constantly. Mikko Koskinen has posted an 0-2 report and an .897 goals-against common this postseason, leaving Smith as the most suitable choice in an elimination recreation.
The Oilers enter Monday’s Sport 4 in a must-win scenario and certain will not see Sport 5 until Smith or Koskinen come up huge.