Smith starting for Flames in Game 1 vs. Avalanche
Gerry Thomas / National Hockey League / Getty
The Calgary Flames confirmed Mike Smith will be the starting goaltender for Game 1 versus the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night, according to Sportsnet 960's Pat Steinberg.
Goaltending has been the primary question mark for the top-seeded Flames all season as Smith has split starter's duties with David Rittich. Both netminders have posted nearly identical numbers since March 1.
| Goalie | Games | Record | Sv % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smith | 9 | 4-5-0 | .904 |
| Rittich | 9 | 5-4-0 | .905 |
Smith presumably gets the nod due to experience; he has 19 career playoff starts while Rittich has none. The 37-year-old also owns an 11-1-4 record and .931 save percentage in 16 career appearances versus the Avalanche.
Game 1 gets underway at 10:00 p.m. ET.