Mike Smith should play for Vancouver...
Posted 12:28 AM ET | Comments 20
"Diving." When you think of diving in the NHL, you think of the Vancouver Canucks. Now, in watching the Western Conference finals, Phoenix goalie Mike Smith has been acting like he has been shot whenever someone comes near his net. Smith's play has been outstanding in the first two rounds, and is the only reason Phoenix has made it this far, but the way he is acting in these playoffs and this series with LA is a disgrace. I Don't think Chicago's Andrew Shaw deserved a 3 game suspension for running in to Smith in the first round. I think Smith's acting sold Brendan Shanahan, when one game was sufficient or the in game penalty itself was enough.
Smith barely getting touched by Dwight King in game 2, where Smith flopped to the ice, is not fair to the referee's who are trying to protect all the goalies. The ref has no choice but to call interference. Same thing happened to Anze Kopitar (who is rarely in the penalty box) in game 1, he was pushed into Smith and the acting sold yet another call. Smith seems to play like a spoiled brat who doesn't get his own way. He gets pissed off whenever he allows a goal, and some say this is his competitive side, but I disagree. Smith lost his cool again in game 2, when he slashed Dustin Brown in the back of the leg, when Brown did nothing to Smith to warrant such a gutless hack. Brown could have been injured badly and if he was to go down, it would be a huge blow to Los Angeles. Brown has been getting under Phoenix players skin, but no one wants to see that kind of a play in the NHL.
When you have LA's Jonathan Quick on the other end, playing the game with style and grace, Smith's bush league play seems more apparent. Don't get me wrong, Quick will get a little hot under the collar, but usually he stays level headed. Smith is just not playing the game right and needs to take a look in the mirror. All eyes are on him right now, and his great season is coming to a screaming halt. Smith needs to stay focused and just play goal, and stop auditioning for a movie...or trying to make the swim team.
Smith barely getting touched by Dwight King in game 2, where Smith flopped to the ice, is not fair to the referee's who are trying to protect all the goalies. The ref has no choice but to call interference. Same thing happened to Anze Kopitar (who is rarely in the penalty box) in game 1, he was pushed into Smith and the acting sold yet another call. Smith seems to play like a spoiled brat who doesn't get his own way. He gets pissed off whenever he allows a goal, and some say this is his competitive side, but I disagree. Smith lost his cool again in game 2, when he slashed Dustin Brown in the back of the leg, when Brown did nothing to Smith to warrant such a gutless hack. Brown could have been injured badly and if he was to go down, it would be a huge blow to Los Angeles. Brown has been getting under Phoenix players skin, but no one wants to see that kind of a play in the NHL.
When you have LA's Jonathan Quick on the other end, playing the game with style and grace, Smith's bush league play seems more apparent. Don't get me wrong, Quick will get a little hot under the collar, but usually he stays level headed. Smith is just not playing the game right and needs to take a look in the mirror. All eyes are on him right now, and his great season is coming to a screaming halt. Smith needs to stay focused and just play goal, and stop auditioning for a movie...or trying to make the swim team.
You couldn't have just written this about Mike Smith diving? It had to somehow be about the Vancouver Canucks. If you are hell-bent on finding what you seek, you'll find it. If you go into a game thinking the Canucks are going to dive, you'll see it when normally you wouldn't. Canucks aren't any worse than your team, my team or any other team. You beat them in the SCF, get over it.
Class act.
The internet really does allow any twit to voice an opinion. In the past your parents would just have hid you from society. I miss the old days.
Nucks fans still bitter! Vancouver should be solicited for the Canadian diving team for the Olympics. They are by far the best out there!
michael stuart laying down the law
I'd love to see a team that doesn't have any players that take a dive. As lame as it is, it is part of the game. The human factor stinks but its there in dives, bad calls, and moronic moves like playing the puck while sitting on the bench.
Correct me if I am wrong. Does, or does not Brad Marchand play for the Bruins? He's been known to dive has he not? Michael's post was dead on...if thats what you expect to see,you will. Pretty much, you ruined what coulda been a decent blog by bringing up a team completely irrelevant to the current playoffs and who are prolly spending more time on the golf course than the swimming pool anyhow.
Kevin Bieksa tells Canucks teammates to lay off diving. (2011 article) http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/08/kevin-bieksa-tells-canucks-teammates-to-lay-off-diving/
I could care less about Vancouver, but to make the point of Mike Smith Diving, I used the team known to do it the most. Yes, all teams dive, no kidding... But to write "Mike Smith should play for the Rangers" wouldn't have made the point. Thanks for your comments everyone, Feedback is always good
nobody likes hypocrite. Boston has by far the most divers I have ever seen in one lineup. Between Krejci, Seguin and Marchand one could argue that bruins should be representing the U.S diving team at the summer olympics...
"I could care less about Vancouver". Then don't write about them.And it's not feedback if we all think you're a moron.
Hanzal was suspended for a dangerous hit on Brown. Why don't write an article about how Hanzal should play for the Bruins?
Used the team known to do it the most? In your eyes. I see a lot more vulgar play from the Bruins than I do the Canucks. At least the Canucks have some class in the organization. I'd take the Sedins over that dirtbag Marchand any day. Complain about the Canucks all you want, but you have to look real hard to find a Canuck making a truly DIRTY play (diving isn't dirty). It takes all of three minutes to find a Bruin doing something despicable.
@Mattjd123... my thoughts exactly.@ Fosco. That wouldn't work...he actually got suspended. :P@Michael, the unbiased, outside perspective is duly noted.
@Sabresfan...same as Michael.
Typical Boston fans
People from Boston should not be allowed to speak in any sort of public forum.
It's blatantly apparent that you "could care less" about Vancouver, u2kmerrill, as you wrote a blog about it.
If you didn't get the point of the blog, then don't worry about it. The Blog had nothing to do with being a Boston fan. I saw what Smith was doing in a series that did not involve Boston, and thought the way he was acting was bad. Vancouver is mentioned once (one time, lol), to start the point. YES all teams dive, and i have the opinion they do it the most. But if you look past the Vancouver statement, I am talking about Smith.... (sorry that was too much for you to understand)