Rittich and Gillies sharing like they’re still in Stockton
DENVER Over the phone from California, Colin Zulianello insists his fingernails haven’t been nibbled down to the quick.
As goaltending coach for the American Hockey League’s Stockton Heat, Zulianello has been keeping close tabs as two of his pupils — Jon Gillies and David Rittich — split the crease for the Calgary Flames.
There’s no nervousness as he watches from afar, just pride.
“Because I’m fully confident in their ability, because they demonstrated it so many times at this level,” said Zulianello, now in his second season with the Flames farm team. “I know it’s a big jump to the NHL, I’m not saying it’s not … It’s the best league in the world, and you have the best players, and they ’re all there for a reason — but I’m confident that both guys are ready.
“So I’m not nervous watching them play — sometimes, maybe, anxious. You’re just really hoping it goes the way that you know it can go.”
Flames fans must be anxious, too. Unless you’ve been lost on a snowshoe expedition, you’re undoubtedly aware that all-star masked man Mike Smith has been shelved by a lower-body injury.
There is no certain timeline for Smith’s return, although there is a sliver of promising news — according to general manager Brad Treliving, the 35-year-old was on the ice Wednesday in Calgary.
Until Smith is ready to roll, the Flames are relying on a pair of rookie puck-stoppers to hold the fort as they fight for a playoff spot in the NHL’s Western Conference.
The 24-year-old Gillies was between the pipes for Tuesday’s 2-0 shutout loss to the Dallas Stars, his first setback in four starts on the biggest stage.
Rittich, 25, got the nod the next night as Calgary capped a twogame getaway in Wednesday’s late date with the Colorado Avalanche.
“To me, they look like NHL goalies,” Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan said this week. “That’s what gives me some confidence.”
Just a few months back, they were both AHL goalies.
Rittich has been with the big club since late November, while Gillies was summoned after Smith was felled in the final seconds of a Feb. 11 win over the New York Islanders in Brooklyn.
After Wednesday’s meeting at the team hotel in Denver, Gulutzan told reporters his short-term plan is a twine-minding time-share.
“With the history of these two goalies, they’ve alternated for a year and a half in the American (Hockey) League and have been top guys down there,” Gulutzan said.
Indeed, these partners in pads worked as a true tandem last winter in the minors, with Gillies logging 39 appearances and Rittich totalling 31 crease calls.
“What I think is really great about the partnership between David and Jon is they tend to bring out the best in each other,” Zulianello said. “They really push each other to be better. We saw that here in Stockton.”