When Mathieu Darche took over as New York Islanders general manager, the mandate was clear: stabilize the present without sacrificing the future. Big swings would come later. In the meantime, the margins mattered. Putting aside the NHL Draft, no move better reflects that approach than the signing of David Rittich, which is quickly shaping up to be Darche\u2019s most important decision of his first offseason.<\/p>\n
Rittich wasn\u2019t brought in to replace Ilya Sorokin. With Semyon Varlamov’s short and long-term status in question (and still in question), he was brought in to protect him, support him, and give the Islanders a chance to win games when their No. 1 needed rest or when circumstances demanded it. So far, he\u2019s done exactly that \u2014 and more.<\/p>\n
Against New Jersey on Tuesday night, Rittich delivered one of his most complete performances of the season. He was under siege early, facing a flurry of Devils chances in the opening period and stopping 14 of 15 shots to keep the Islanders within striking distance. Without that work, the game could have slipped away before it ever settled.<\/p>\n
The saves got bigger as the night went on. In the second period, Rittich stoned Jack Hughes on a clean breakaway, a moment that felt like a turning point. Then, with the game tied in the third, he matched Connor Brown at the right side of the crease and immediately followed it by denying Luke Hughes \u2014 losing a skate blade in the process, but never losing his focus.<\/p>\n
Rittich stones Hughes on a breakaway #Isles<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/9w7yvSazXs<\/a><\/p>\n