Wild Vs Islanders: Starting Goaltending Matchup
The Minnesota Wild (5-7-3) will play on the road tonight against the New York Islanders (6-5-2). The projected goaltending matchup features rookie Jesper Wallstedt for the Wild and veteran David Rittich for the Islanders.
Minnesota Wild Goaltending
After starting five consecutive games and playing in yesterday's loss to Carolina, Filip Gustavsson will sit out tonight. Jesper Wallstedt is expected to start. This season, Wallstedt is 1-0-2 with a 3.38 goals-against average and a .863 save percentage across ten games.
Wallstedt, 23, has never faced the Islanders in his NHL career. His overall NHL record stands at 3-3-2 with a 3.34 goals-against average and a .863 save percentage.
New York Islanders Goaltending
The Islanders are playing the first of a back-to-back series. Head coach Patrick Roy confirmed that David Rittich will start tonight, with Ilya Sorokin scheduled for Saturday.
Rittich, 33, has a 3-1-0 record this season in four games, with a 3.01 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage. He did not face the Wild last year but has enjoyed significant success against them in his career.
Against the Wild, Rittich is 5-0-1 with a stellar 2.11 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage, including one shutout in six starts.
“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.”
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