San Jose will be facing Phoenix goalie Mike Smith tonight. Considering that Smith has shut out the Sharks in four of the past six times he?s been in net against them, any inside information is welcome.
Here?s what Torres had to say about Smith after praising him as a hard-working, talented goalie who?s patient and quick to react.
?Get pucks to the net, throw pucks at his feet. He?s a big goalie so it takes him a little longer to get down. Second and third chances are going to be huge tonight,? Torres said.
?We can?t let him dictate the game. We?ve got to get pucks to the net, traffic and make it a tough night for him.?
Smith is considered the best puck-handler among NHL goalies, seeming at times to be a third defenseman.
?I don?t think we play enough in their zone so the volume of quality scoring chances isn?t as high as it should be,? McLellan said. ?In large part, that?s due to us giving the puck up and him being able to come out and play it and get going the other way.?
****Antti Niemi will be playing in his 38th game tonight. The Sharks netminder is getting some national buzz as a Vezina candidate and McLellan said today he thinks that?s well earned.
?Nemo deserves to be part of that conversation league-wide when the people begin to talk about potential candidates for those awards. His numbers speak for themselves,? McLellan said. ?He?s been playing a lot, he?ll continue to play a lot. He?s been able to maintain a pretty consistent game throughout the year rather than being up and down and all over.?
Here?s what Torres had to say about Smith after praising him as a hard-working, talented goalie who?s patient and quick to react.
?Get pucks to the net, throw pucks at his feet. He?s a big goalie so it takes him a little longer to get down. Second and third chances are going to be huge tonight,? Torres said.
?We can?t let him dictate the game. We?ve got to get pucks to the net, traffic and make it a tough night for him.?
Smith is considered the best puck-handler among NHL goalies, seeming at times to be a third defenseman.
?I don?t think we play enough in their zone so the volume of quality scoring chances isn?t as high as it should be,? McLellan said. ?In large part, that?s due to us giving the puck up and him being able to come out and play it and get going the other way.?
****Antti Niemi will be playing in his 38th game tonight. The Sharks netminder is getting some national buzz as a Vezina candidate and McLellan said today he thinks that?s well earned.
?Nemo deserves to be part of that conversation league-wide when the people begin to talk about potential candidates for those awards. His numbers speak for themselves,? McLellan said. ?He?s been playing a lot, he?ll continue to play a lot. He?s been able to maintain a pretty consistent game throughout the year rather than being up and down and all over.?
