The Calgary Flames will have to overcome a bit of an obstacle as they begin their four-game road trip. The club has recalled goaltender Jon Gillies from the American Hockey League’s Stockton Heat due to a lower-body injury to starting netminder David Rittich.
.@CortexBusiness Transaction Alert: The #Flames have recalled Jon Gillies from the @AHLHeat. https://t.co/D7myfDbYcS
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) January 2, 2019
Gillies, 24, is recalled for the second time this season – the previous stint in Calgary being due to an injury to Mike Smith. He’s played 12 career NHL games (and zero this season) with a 4-5-1 record, 2.71 goals against average and 0.903 save percentage.
With Rittich sidelined, the reins fall back to Smith. Smith has played one game since mid-December. He’s looked better of late, but he’s generally been shaky this season. He hasn’t played a ton lately because, to be blunt, Rittich has been the better option.
The Flames’ road trip takes them to Detroit on Wednesday night, Boston on Thursday night, Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon and concludes in Chicago on Monday night. Per Postmedia’s Wes Gilbertson, Rittich is traveling with the team.
#Flames G David Rittich is with team on road-trip. Certainly hints that his lower-body injury is not too serious. He was stretching out leg in first period against Sharks but still finished game, and looked sharp in doing so.
— Wes Gilbertson (@WesGilbertson) January 2, 2019
