The psychological war in the BOA

Mike Smith and Jacob Markstrom both did excellent work in the first round, but I have to believe that Smith will be extra motivated to win this series because he has a score to settle with the Calgary Flames.

For you see, Calgary did not re-sign Smith after the 2018-19 season. It was then that the Edmonton Oilers snapped him up for cheap, then again for another year, then another two years last offseason.

To be facing the Flames now on the biggest stage of the NHL gives Smith a chance for revenge and vindication. As we all know by now, if there’s one thing Smith takes to heart with a proverbial middle finger right back, it’s being criticized.

Markstrom is an ex-Vancouver Canuck, and as such will be facing his first playoff entry into the battle of Alberta. So is Smith, I suppose, but Markstrom doesn’t have the extra motivation of being a spurned ex-Oiler. The fact that Mike Smith is a spurned ex-Flame could turn out to be the mental difference in this series as far as the goaltending goes.

So now the Flames not only have to contend with containing the McDrai duo, then shutting down the depth scorers around them, and getting through the Oilers D to score plus shutting down the Oiler’s attack from the blueline, but then they have to get past a goaltender who has a score to settle with their organization. I have to think that’s pressure.

Not to mention Markstrom only has 21 playoff games under his belt, only 14 of which was on years of subpar Canucks teams. Smith has 36 career playoff games, 29 of which were before the first round of this season. He has a better playoff sv%, .932 to Markstrom’s .925, and a better lifetime playoff GAA too, 2.33 to Markstrom’s 2.4.

Smith has already out-duelled Jonathan Quick, and if I was a betting man I’d bet on Smith out-duelling Markstrom in this series.