David Rittich to start against Vegas on Monday

David Rittich has been outstanding throughout the season, and he’s starting to get rewarded for it. For the second time this year, he gets the start in back-to-back games.

Through nine games this season (including seven starts), Rittich has a .933 save percentage: good for fourth in the NHL among goalies with at least 400 minutes played. At even strength, his save percentage is .957% – the best in the NHL with the same parameters. He’s coming off of a .923% effort against the Oilers, a game in which he had to stop numerous breakaways and keep his team in it until the skaters were able to start clicking.

This is in sharp contrast to Mike Smith, whose .876 save percentage is ranked as dead last among all goalies with at least 400 minutes played (.891% at even strength, third last). Smith has played 13 games this season, and has been pulled twice.

The numbers, the eye test, and presumably everyone – including the coaching staff – all seem to be in full agreement: right now, Rittich gives the Flames the best chance to win. It only makes sense to go back to him.

Rittich started Oct. 21 against the Rangers and Oct. 23 against the Canadiens when he previously started back-to-back games. He faced at least 40 shots in both and had save percentages of .978 and .925, winning the first game and dropping the second (though not really through any fault of his own).