Five goals out of 13 shots, that’s Rittich’s bitter business card. Then he was recalled from the goal and his frustration was palpable. Connor Ingram went between the poles, while the Finnish number one Juuse Saros is still out of the game for at least one match with an injury in the lower half of the body. Nashville is in trouble.
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“It wasn’t good,” Predators coach John Hynes said. What exactly does this mean for Rittich? That next time he’ll probably start on the bench. But Nashville had a lot of problems at the beginning of the series than just the goalkeeper’s performance.
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With a little luck, 29-year-old Rittich could have prevented some of the collected goals. However, his teammates did not make the situation any easier for him. They also messed up the weakness, allowing Andrew Coglian to escape, who ended up twice from a sharp angle. The fifth goal was scored by Rittich from Calea Makara, who, after escaping from the wing, directed the puck into the goal by bouncing off the helmet of the Nashville goalkeeper.
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Meanwhile, Rittich neutralized Nathan MacKinnon’s break with a bold run for the circles, but for the overseas fans, the current situation of the Predators is personalized by a shot from a previous duel with Colorado at the end of the main part. During the attempt to capture the puck, the native of Jihlava crashed into the goal and ended up on his back. At the same time, the Predators won 5: 4 on raids after Rittich’s 42 interventions …
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“In a lot of situations we cooked ourselves. But in the second match we can fix it,” he appealed to the Hynes team.
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However, Saros’ absence waved over the Tennessee guys more than expected. The 27-year-old Finn started 67 games from the start, the largest portion of any NHL goalkeeper. And his injury came at the most inopportune moment.
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The club’s management is now facing criticism that it overwhelmed Saros and did not give him adequate space to rest. Rittich also complained about the lack of opportunities during the season.
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The best in the West are off to a roaring start.
Andrew Cogliano’s first in an Avalanche uniform was one of Colorado’s FOUR goals in the first 13 minutes of Game 1.
๐ฅ @Sportsnetpic.twitter.com/8BepbSN1FY
โ The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 4, 2022
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“Of course I want to catch more. I expected a heavier load because I was told something else. I can’t be happy with it, but I’m still working … Maybe I’ll get more of those starts. But I’m not a person who spreads a bad atmosphere around me , although over time it is harder to stay in a positive mood, “Rittich said in an January interview with Sport.cz.
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He started his last playoff duel before Tuesday’s brutal hair dryer on August 20, 2020, still behind Calgary against Dallas. At that time, he changed Cam Talbot, but after three goals received from nine attempts, he headed for the substitution again.
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“Colorado is an excellent team that wants the Stanley Cup, so we have to face it much better,” said Nashville striker Matt Duchene before continuing the series. But it doesn’t seem very likely that Rittich will be there from the beginning.
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