Wild Vs Islanders: Starting Goaltending Matchup
The Minnesota Wild (5-7-3) will face the New York Islanders (6-5-2) on the road tonight. The starting goaltenders are expected to be rookie Jesper Wallstedt for the Wild and veteran David Rittich for the Islanders.
Wild Goaltending
Jesper Wallstedt, 23, is likely to start after Filip Gustavsson is rested following five consecutive starts and the recent game against Carolina. Wallstedt's current season record is 1-0-2 with a 3.38 goals-against average and a .863 save percentage across ten games.
Wallstedt has never played against the Islanders in his career. Overall, he holds a 3-3-2 NHL record with a 3.34 goals-against average and a .863 save percentage.
Islanders Goaltending
The Islanders are playing the first game of a back-to-back. Head coach Patrick Roy announced David Rittich will start tonight, with Ilya Sorokin scheduled for Saturday.
Rittich, 33, holds a 3-1-0 record this season over four games, recording a 3.01 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage. He did not face the Wild last year.
"Rittich has had a lot of success against the Wild in his career. He is 5-0-1 with a 2.11 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage. He has one shutout as well in six career starts."
Rittich's impressive career record against Minnesota highlights his strong performance in this upcoming matchup.
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Jesper Wallstedt will aim to maintain his rising form against a seasoned David Rittich, who brings an excellent track record versus the Wild, promising an intense goaltending battle.