"Backup goalies in the NHL are like insurance. You pay for it every month and don't really think about it until you need it. Then, one day, you need your insurance. When you have it, it's great. It bails you out of trouble. But when you don't, you wish you did. That's what Rittich has been for the Islanders this season."
""Rittich has been arguably the most valuable backup in the NHL. Rittich has pitched a stellar 11-5-2 record and .907 save percentage in 18 games behind a leaky Islanders defense. He's saved 17.9 goals above expected, which ranks top-10 among all netminders. Sorokin's mid-December injury could have derailed New York's playoff chances, but Rittich's excellent play has kept the club alive.""
The New York Islanders entered the season aiming to change identity after a disappointing playoff miss the previous year. Eighteen-year-old Matthew Schaefer secured a roster spot and performed beyond expectations. Backup goaltender David Rittich also outperformed projections by providing reliable goaltending when Ilya Sorokin briefly missed time. Rittich's play stabilized the team, preserving a top-three position in the Metropolitan Division. He posted an 11-5-2 record, a .907 save percentage in 18 games, and saved 17.9 goals above expected, ranking among the NHL's top-10 netminders. Rittich's reliability prevented a potential collapse of the Islanders' playoff chances.
Read at Eyes On Isles
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