Veteran Mike Smith is likely to be the Edmonton Oilers’ backup goaltender in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals against the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday.
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As reported by various media, head coach Jay Woodcroft mentioned that he will only identify his starter on the day of the game. On Tuesday, Smith was replaced by Mikko Koskinen after giving up six times on 25 shots in an 8-6 loss in the series opener. For his part, Koskinen stopped 20 of 21 shots aimed at him.
“I think Mike Smith has been great for us throughout the playoffs. We will determine his and Mikko’s status tomorrow,” Woodcroft said.
If the past is a guarantor of the future, the instructor will bet again on Smith, who had started the second game of the Western semi-final against the Calgary Flames following a poor performance at his previous outing, a 9-6 loss. Edmonton won the next four games to eliminate its provincial rivals.
In the playoffs, the 40-year-old has an 8-3-0 record, a 3.12 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage.
