"The New York Islanders spent much of last season learning the hard way what happens when the backup goalie position isn't truly NHL-ready. Ilya Sorokin was forced into a league-high workload, and when he finally needed a breather, the Islanders cycled through Marcus Högberg, Jakub Škarek and even Tristan Lennox, who faced just two shots in his NHL cameo. It wasn't sustainable, and it wasn't fair to Sorokin."
"Rittich has been everything the Islanders needed and more. He's 6-2-0 on the year, stabilzing the crease when Sorokin rests and keeping the team afloat during a packed November schedule. In his last three starts, all one-goal Islanders wins, Rittich has stopped 68 of 72 shots, posting a 1.29 GAA and .945 save percentage. Those aren't just respectable numbers for a backup - they're No.1 goalie type numbers."
The Islanders overused Ilya Sorokin last season because the backup goalie position lacked NHL-ready options, contributing to Sorokin's heavy workload and the team's late-season decline. With Semyon Varlamov's injury timeline uncertain, GM Mathieu Darche signed veteran David Rittich to shore up the crease. Rittich delivered dependable results, posting a strong record and exceptional numbers in recent starts while preserving Sorokin during a congested schedule. His calm, occasionally unpredictable style has given the team confidence in a true No. 2 goaltender. Rittich's presence has reduced Sorokin's overuse and materially improved the team's performance in goal.
Read at Eyes On Isles
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