RITTICH READY FOR STARTING ROLE
Early success this season has given Flames’ noisy backup goalie that winning swagger
Hopefully, for Santa’s sake, Bill Peters is more specific with his Christmas wish list.
The Calgary Flames announced prior to Friday’s flight to Minnesota — the first stop on a threegame jaunt — that netminder Mike Smith is out “day-to-day” due to an undisclosed injury.
The head coach wasn’t adding much detail to that diagnosis, other than to reiterate that Smith shouldn’t be on the shelf for long.
“I expect him to play on this trip, for sure. I would be shocked if he didn’t,” Peters said. “It’s nothing that we think is going to keep him out long-term. He’s just got some general soreness, let’s say. Not a concussion, so you can rule that out.”
Perhaps, for a crew of pesky reporters, Calgary’s skipper would at least divulge an upperor lower-body designation? Good try.
“Either one is good,” Peters said with a smile.
For the past few weeks, “either one is good” has also summed up the Flames’ puck-stopping situation.
After a dreadful start to the campaign, Smith had earned the ‘W’ in six straight appearances.
The 36-year-old seemed to be trending the wrong direction when he surrendered four goals on only five shots during Wednesday’s middle period, but perhaps that shaky second can be explained by his mystery malady.
It’s believed Smith was injured on a collision in his crease earlier in the night.
He hooked himself after 40 minutes and wasn’t even on the bench for the final frame, missing out on the latest wowworthy comeback for the Pacific Division-leading Flames.
Beyond the optimistic news about Smith’s status, the reason there is no panic around the Saddledome — or at Schanks, Stavro’s or any other hangout where the hockey takes are hot and the beer is cold — is that his partner-in-pads, David Rittich, has been superb.
Truth is, the 26-year-old from the Czech Republic has been Calgary’s most consistent and reliable masked man so far this season.
Rittich will be between the pipes for Saturday’s early affair against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center (11:30 a.m., Sportsnet West/Sportsnet 960 The Fan).
Jon Gillies was recalled from the American Hockey League’s Stockton Heat to fill the backup role.
“(Smith) is a huge part of me and he’s huge for me. He’s always trying to help me,” Rittich said after Friday’s morning practice. “For sure, I will miss him and all team will miss him, too. But it’s hockey, and you can get something kind of like that.
“I think he’s going to be great in a couple of days.”
The Flames, in the meantime, just need Rittich to be good. Great would be a bonus. Remember, Rittich’s only rough patch as a rookie came while Smith was sidelined by a groin injury last February/ March.
This is a show-me stretch, however long it lasts.
“That was the first year in the NHL for me, so it was a little bit kind of weird. Because, you know, I have to learn the league and learn what the players do,” said Rittich, who arrives in Minnesota with a sterling 9-3-1 record, 2.31 goals-against average and .921 save percentage to open his sophomore campaign.
“I think I did it, and I feel way different than last year. I think it’s going to be good. It’s going to be same thing for me as when Smitty was healthy.
“I was without him (last year) for almost over a month, I think. It was a long time. I had time to learn, and then I had all summer to be smarter. It’s about experience. I got this experience last year, and hopefully, it’s going to be different this year.”
Which means, for one, that he won’t act any different behind the scenes.
Generally goofy, constantly chirping, the Flames noticed Rittich suddenly seemed a lot more serious during his previous stint as go-to guy.
As goaltending coach Jordan Sigalet put it earlier this season: “Last year, when he got the net, I think he lost his personality a little bit. He was almost too focused. I know that sounds weird, but he’s better when he’s loose.”
Lesson learned. Teammates, pack your earplugs.
“I always want to make fun, it doesn’t matter what,” Rittich said.
“Obviously, if you’re going to lose, it’s going to be different — you want to be quiet. But if you get two points or before the game, I want to make fun.”
Last year, when he got the net, I think he lost his personality a little bit. He was almost too focused. I know that sounds weird, but he’s better when he’s loose.