Calgary Flames Daily: Facing the Devils, David Rittich gets the nod

It’s game day! The Calgary Flames will be taking on the New Jersey Devils as they continue their six-game road trip.

The Calgary Flames continue their six-game road trip tonight against the New Jersey Devils. They’ve won their last two games after losing six in a row. They opened up their road trip vs. the Chicago Blackhawks where they scored a late-game goal to win that one in regulation (finally).

These two teams have already played once this season back in November where the Flames won 5-4 in a shootout. In that game, the Flames struggling powerplay continued, where they were 0/3 with the man-advantage. But they also didn’t allow a powerplay goal in the Devils two opportunities.

Mike Smith had the start in that game, but tonight, David Rittich gets the nod since the Flames are playing in back-to-backs tonight and tomorrow. This will be Rittich’s first start in two weeks where he got the nod in the shootout loss vs. the Edmonton Oilers.

Related Story: David Rittich deserves more than just back-to-back games

Flames fans were kind of hoping that Eddie Lack would get the start tonight for the Devils. Lack, who was traded to the Devils in December, last played for the Flames in their 8-2 loss vs. the Detroit Red Wings. But it’s already been confirmed that Keith Kinkaid will be between the pipes tonight (boooooo). However, Kinkaid allowed four goals on just 20 shots in their last game vs. the Ottawa Senators and Lack had to relieve him. So who knows what happens tonight.

Lack has also said that he would like to start against his former team.

Via North Jersey:

"“Obviously, I’ve been looking at this week and seeing what kind of games are coming up,” Lack told The Record/NorthJersey.com. “It would be great to play that game but it’s not really my decision. It’s definitely a team that I would like to win against.”"

Lack also mentioned how he didn’t like the Flames’ goalie system and wanted more playing time than he got.

"“Honestly, I don’t even think it had anything to do with Smitty,” Lack said. “He played really, really good but I can’t see why you can’t have two goalies going. That’s something that these guys [the Devils] have done good here. They’ve got two goalies going and both are getting wins.“That’s the kind of teams I’ve been on in the past and that’s how I thought it was going to be in Calgary,” Lack added. “They wanted something different and I wasn’t part of the plan.”"

On the other end of the ice, Rittich so far this season is 4-0-2 in games he has started and is 4-1-2 altogether. All six games Rittich has started have been on the road where, like Smith, he’s also proven to be a good road goaltender. He boasts a 0.938 sv% in his six starts and has allowed just 12 goals in those games on 192 shots. Let’s hope he adds another win tonight, he deserves more than just back-to-back starts.

Hockey Tweet of the day

Some links surrounding the Flames

Flames at Devils: Five things you need to know before the puck drops (Calgary Sun).

NHL trade rumors: Flames, Jets look to add depth for playoff push, while sellers Canucks, Oilers prepare for future (Sporting News).

Calgary Flames vs. New Jersey Devils: NHL Odds, Prediction (Sports Interaction).

Some links surrounding hockey and the NHL

Down Goes Brown: 12 NHL GMs under the most deadline pressure (Sportsnet).

Olympics time difference and lack of NHL players have bars expecting struggle (CBC News).

Burrows’ story doesn’t fly with NHL as Senators winger gets 10-game suspension (The Hockey News).

Next: What went well for the Flames in Chicago?

That’s all in today’s Calgary Flames Daily!