Despite loss, Edmonton coach Dave Tippett praises Mike Smith's performance in net

Even though the outcome was another loss for the Edmonton Oilers, head coach Dave Tippett had no issue with the performance of goaltender Mike Smith in Wednesday night's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"He was solid. First two goals, one off the backboard, one off two legs or whatever. But he gave us a chance to win," said Tippett following Edmonton's 4-2 loss to the Leafs, the team's fifth loss in a row.

"It was a solid team effort on the work part but that being said, we're a results-oriented business and you got to find a way to get results," Tippett continued. But the effort, the compete, the try, were all front and centre with our group tonight."

Tippett's comments are in stark contrast to the one's he made following a 4-1 loss to the New York Rangers Monday night. After that game, Tippett was critical of goaltender Mikko Koskinen, saying the giveaway that led to the first goal of the game for the Rangers was "brutal". Koskinen did an interview with Finnish media after that where he acknowledged that he needs to be better, but added he can't score goals and that the team is not putting up enough offense.

Smith stopped 29 of 32 shots last night (one goal was an empty netter) for a save percentage of .906. In the previous game, Koskinen let in four on 28 shots for a .857 save percentage.

tippett: "it was a solid team effort on the work part but that being said we're a results-oriented business and you got to find a way to get results. but the effort, the compete, the try, were all front and centre with our group tonight."— zach laing (@zjlaing) January 6, 2022

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