Wild vs Islanders: Starting Goaltending Matchup
The Minnesota Wild (5-7-3) visit the New York Islanders (6-5-2) tonight. The game will feature a matchup between rookie Jesper Wallstedt and veteran David Rittich.
Jesper Wallstedt’s Starting Opportunity
After five consecutive starts, including yesterday’s loss to Carolina, Filip Gustavsson will rest. Jesper Wallstedt is expected to take the net for the Wild. The 23-year-old goalie has a 1-0-2 record this season, posting a 3.38 goals-against average and a .863 save percentage in ten games.
Wallstedt has not faced the Islanders before, marking his first career appearance against them. Overall, his NHL record stands at 3-3-2 with a 3.34 goals-against average and a .863 save percentage.
Veteran Experience: David Rittich in Net
The Islanders are beginning a back-to-back series. Head coach Patrick Roy confirmed that David Rittich will start tonight, with Ilya Sorokin set for Saturday’s game.
Rittich, 33, has a 3-1-0 record this season with a 3.01 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage. While he did not play against the Wild last year, he has historically performed well against them.
Rittich holds a career record of 5-0-1 versus Minnesota with a 2.11 goals-against average, a .935 save percentage, and one shutout in six starts.
Additional Context
Both teams enter the match with different motivations — the Wild seeking to stabilize their goaltending rotation, and the Islanders relying on Rittich’s record to maintain momentum in their back-to-back sequence.
Author’s Summary
The Wild entrust rookie Jesper Wallstedt against New York, while veteran David Rittich, with an impressive record versus Minnesota, aims to continue his success for the Islanders.