Rittich allowed three goals on 20 shots in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Sharks. The fourth goal was an empty-netter.
Rittich never received a lead to protect, as the Kings were able to twice erase one-goal deficits but never pulled ahead. The 32-year-old has allowed at least three goals in each of his three losses. He's at a 3-3-0 record, 3.09 GAA and .870 save percentage through six appearances. He's been a bit inconsistent, though he's been pressed into more work than expected early on due Darcy Kuemper previously missing time with a lower-body injury. Look for Kuemper to get the nod Wednesday at home against the Golden Knights.
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Kings' David Rittich: Starting against Sharks
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Rittich will protect the road goal versus the Sharks on Tuesday, Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site reports.
Rittich's last start came at home against the Sharks, and he earned the win with 24 saves on 26 shots. The 32-year-old netminder has gone 3-2-0 with a 3.09 GAA and an .874 save percentage over five outings this season. The Sharks have scored 23 times over 10 contests, so this is a good matchup for Rittich.
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Kings' David Rittich: Allows two goals in win
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Rittich stopped 24 of 26 shots in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Sharks.
Rittich was fine, as both goals he allowed were scored by Mikael Granlund on the power play. Rittich enjoyed a five-start run as the Kings' No. 1 netminder, but that is likely to end with Darcy Kuemper (lower body) back from injured reserve. Through five starts, Rittich is 3-2-0 with 14 goals allowed on 111 shots. He should be able to put up better results in a backup role that's likely to yield more favorable matchups -- the 32-year-old has generally taken care of business against weak opponents.
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Kings' David Rittich: First off ice Thursday
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Rittich was the first netminder off the ice at morning skate, Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site reports, indicating he will get the home start versus San Jose on Thursday.
Rittich has been hot and cold this season, giving up 10 goals on 44 shots in two losses, and two goals on 41 shots in his two wins. He has taken over the No. 1 job with the Kings as Darcy Kuemper remains out of action with a lower-body injury. Rittich should have his best matchup of the season as he will face the Sharks, who are 0-5-2 while scoring a league-low 13 goals.
Rittich stopped 24 of 30 shots in Tuesday's 6-1 loss to the Golden Knights.
Rittich had allowed just one goal in each of his previous two starts, but the Golden Knights put up a much better effort than the Ducks or the Canadiens. The 32-year-old netminder continues to fill in as the Kings' top goalie while Darcy Kuemper (lower body) is sidelined. The Kings' seven-game road trip is now in the books, and they'll have their home opener Thursday versus the Sharks, making Rittich an attractive streaming option should he start that game.
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Kings' David Rittich: Slated to start Tuesday
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Rittich is expected to defend the road net Tuesday against Vegas, according to Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site.
Rittich has won his last two outings while surrendering two goals on 41 shots. Vegas has lit the lamp 23 times through six games this season.
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Kings' David Rittich: Lightly tested in win
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Rittich stopped 14 of 15 shots in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Ducks.
Rittich started for the third straight game, and he's won his last two outings. The 32-year-old had a shutout going until Ryan Strome scored at 18:16 of the third period. Rittich continues to fill in as the Kings' top goalie while Darcy Kuemper (lower body) is sidelined. With his recent success, Rittich figures to get the nod at Vegas on Tuesday.
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Kings' David Rittich: In net Sunday
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Rittich will guard the road crease versus Anaheim on Sunday, Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site reports.
Rittich will make his third start of the season -- he's 1-1-0 with an .878 save percentage and a 3.25 GAA in two appearances. The 32-year-old is Los Angeles' de facto No. 1 netminder while Darcy Kuemper recovers from a lower-body injury. Anaheim is averaging 2.75 goals for per game across four contests.
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Kings' David Rittich: Bounces back Thursday
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Rittich stopped all but one of 27 shots in Thursday's 4-1 win over Montreal.
Rittich, who allowed four goals on 14 shots and was pulled from Tuesday's 6-2 loss in Toronto, bounced back Wednesday to notch his first win. He was slow to react on Justin Barron's first-period wraparound goal that gave Montreal an early lead, but the 32-year-old netminder stifled the Habs after that. He is seeing increased playing time since primary goalie Darcy Kuemper (lower body) missed a second straight game Thursday. The Kings continue their seven-game, season-opening road sojourn Sunday in Anaheim.
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Kings' David Rittich: Guarding road goal Thursday
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Rittich is set to start on the road against Montreal on Thursday, according to Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site.
Rittich will look for a better result after allowing four goals on 14 shots en route to a 6-2 loss to Toronto on Wednesday. He logged just 32:22 of ice time in that game before being pulled, which is presumably part of the reason why the Kings decided it was okay to start him for the second time in as many nights. Darcy Kuemper (lower body) is on the shelf, so the alternative would have been to start Pheonix Copley if Rittich wasn't getting the nod. Copley also participated in Wednesday's loss to Toronto, stopping just 10 of 12 shots.
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Kings' David Rittich: Subpar outing in Wednesday's loss
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Rittich gave up four goals on 14 shots before being removed from Wednesday's 6-2 loss to the Maple Leafs midway through the second period.
Rittich gave up three goals in the first period, and by the time Morgan Rielly made it 4-0, the Kings had seen enough and replaced Rittich with Pheonix Copley, who gave up two more goals the rest of the way. Darcy Kuemper (lower body) is considered day-to-day and might not be available to start against the Canadiens on Thursday, and if that's the case, then it's unclear whether the Kings will give Rittich another chance, or if they'll decide to go with Copley instead. This was Rittich's first appearance of the 2024-25 campaign after going 13-6-3 with a 2.15 GAA and a .921 save percentage across 24 regular-season outings in 2023-24.
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Kings' David Rittich: Starting Wednesday's matchup
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Rittich will serve as the starting goalie for Wednesday's road matchup against Toronto, Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site reports.
Rittich will make his first start of the regular season Wednesday since Darcy Kuemper (lower body) is considered day-to-day. Rittich made 24 appearances in the NHL last year and logged a 13-6-3 record, 2.15 GAA and .921 save percentage. Pheonix Copley will serve as the backup goaltender Wednesday and could draw the start in Thursday's road game against Montreal if Rittich doesn't start in both ends of the back-to-back.
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Kings' David Rittich: Ready to roll as backup
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Rittich made 13 saves in a 4-1 win over Boston on Thursday.
The 32-year-old's best season came in 2018-19 when he went 27-9-5 with a 2.61 GAA and .911 save percentage in 42 starts for Calgary. Rittich has been in a back-up role since 2020-21, seeing time with five teams (Calgary, Toronto, Nashville, Winnipeg and now Los Angeles) over the last four years. He will play second fiddle this season to fellow newcomer Darcy Kuemper, but will deliver strong results inside the structure of one of the NHL's best team defenses.
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Kings' David Rittich: Starting Thursday
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Rittich will defend the home crease versus the Bruins on Thursday, Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site reports.
The two teams are in Quebec City for the exhibition contest. Rittich had a solid 2023-24 campaign, going 13-6-2 with a 2.15 GAA and a .921 save percentage in 24 regular-season games with the Kings as the backup to Cam Talbot. Talbot has moved on to Detroit, with LA acquiring Darcy Kuemper in the offseason, as their presumptive No. 1 goaltender this season.
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Kings' David Rittich: Facing Ducks
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Rittich will patrol the home crease in Saturday's exhibition matchup against Anaheim, per Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site.
Rittich registered a 13-6-3 record with a 2.15 GAA and a .921 save percentage over 24 regular-season appearances with the Kings in 2023-24. He is expected to open the 2024-25 campaign as Darcy Kuemper's backup.
Rittich signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Kings on Wednesday.
Rittich had a 13-6-3 record, 2.15 GAA and .921 save percentage in 24 regular-season appearances with the Kings in 2023-24. He also stopped 34 of 39 shots (.872 save percentage) across two playoff outings this year. Rittich would have become an unrestricted free agent this summer if he didn't sign this extension. Cam Talbot, who logged 54 regular-season games with LA, remains set to become a UFA, so it's unclear who Rittich's goaltending partner will be next year. Although the 31-year-old Rittich is coming off a strong campaign, he has spent most of his career as a backup goaltender, so it wouldn't be surprising if the Kings seek to pair him with an established starter.
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Kings' David Rittich: Falls to Edmonton
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Rittich allowed four goals on 26 shots in Wednesday's 4-3 Game 5 loss to the Oilers.
Rittich and the Kings couldn't overcome Edmonton's three-goal second period in the series-deciding loss. The 31-year-old Rittich started the series' final two games, going 0-2-0 with an .872 save percentage after Cam Talbot struggled in the first three games. Rittich was solid in the regular season, going 13-6-3 with a .921 save percentage. Rittich could be looking for an opportunity to win a starting gig as a free agent this summer.
