Help wanted: The Flames' backup goalie situation is untenable
On Wednesday night, the Detroit Red Wings shone a spotlight on the Calgary Flames' most glaring weakness - their backup goaltending.
The Red Wings dismantled the Flames with an 8-2 victory in a game that saw netminding duties left to Eddie Lack and Jon Gillies. The two combined to stop just 19 of the 27 shots thrown their way.
Sure, four of those goals came with the man advantage, but a growing trend is starting to rear its ugly head: the Flames are in trouble when Mike Smith is not between the pipes.
The Flames are off to a 10-8-0 start and, as fate would have it, Smith has gone 9-6-0 with a 2.63 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. Early on, he is proving to be the reason for much of the team's success.
He's faced 506 shots - the second most in the league - boasts the second-best even-strength save percentage, the third-ranked high-danger save percentage, and the fifth-best medium-danger save percentage among goalies to play at least 10 games this season. In summary, he's been good.
His counterparts can't say the same. While it's been a small sample size, Lack has gone 1-2-0 in four games with a 5.29 goals-against average and a .813 save percentage, while we already know how Gillies gave up three goals on 12 shots on Wednesday in his lone appearance of the season.
In the two games Lack has started this season - his other two appearances were in relief - he has given up a combined nine goals on 43 shots in just under 84 minutes of play.
Furthermore, over the past two seasons, the 29-year-old has strung together a .898 save percentage and 2.86 goals-against average, the 51st- and 47th-best marks among all 52 goalies to play at least 50 games. So, don't expect Lack to suddenly turn things around.
It's becoming clear that something must be done here. Smith is currently day to day with an upper-body injury - which kept him out Wednesday - and while he may return as soon as Saturday, this could have long-term ramifications.
Generally, teams use their backup goalie on the second night of back-to-backs. Going forward, the Flames will face that situation 10 more times this season. That's a possible 20 points in the standings; a significant chunk, and one the Flames can't afford to just throw away.
So, the best option would appear to be searching the market for a more reliable deputy, although pickings could be slim. As a reminder, Antti Niemi, who currently has a 6.74 goals-against average and a .822 save percentage, has been claimed off waivers twice this season.
However, there are some potential candidates out there.
The first is Andrew Hammond. The Hamburglar was dealt to the Colorado Avalanche as part of the three-way trade that sent Matt Duchene to the Ottawa Senators. Following the deal, however, the Avalanche decided to keep Hammond with the Senators' AHL club as they plan to seek a potential trade partner. A deal here makes sense.
Another possible option could be Calvin Pickard, whom the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights. He is now suiting up for the Toronto Marlies as Frederik Andersen and Curtis McElhinney tend twine with the main club, but has posted a .918 save percentage and a 2.45 goals-against average and has experience as a starter in the league.
Then there is David Rittich, who with the Stockton Flames this year has gone 4-1-0 with a 2.20 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage. The Czech native also put up strong numbers as a farmhand last season and might be worth calling up if Lack's underwhelming play persists.
All this leaves the Flames management with a lot to consider. How they attempt to address their backup goaltending will be interesting to see. What is known is that Mike Smith can only carry the club so far.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)