Half an inch away from a perfect doubleheader.
That’s how close the Calgary Flames were from rewarding David Rittich’s second-straight goaltending clinic with another win over the league’s top team.
Alas, Elias Lindholm’s short-angled shot at the Leafs’ empty net rang off the goalpost, allowing the hosts to storm down the ice to tie the game with 88 seconds remaining.
One minute into overtime William Nylander struck once again, sending the most emotional member of the Calgary Flames racing off the ice in obvious frustration.
“I’m going to be okay tomorrow,” said Rittich, who stopped 37 shots two nights after recording a 34-save shutout. “It’s just I’m not feeling very awesome now because we just lost 2-1 in overtime.”
Rittich might not fully appreciate the magnitude of his two-game turnaround until he wakes up in Ottawa Thursday morning, but in the process of getting his mojo back, he also played the most important role of anyone in potentially turning the Flames season around.
Arriving in Hogtown losers of three in a row and without the services of starter Jacob Markstrom, Rittich provided the type of goaltending and leadership that sets the club up well for five of their next six against last-place Ottawa.
This team needed to find something to feel good about, and Big Save Dave provided that, not to mention three of four points from Toronto.
“Lots of positive things about what we did in those two games,” said Rittich, who stopped 71 of 73 shots and all 11 power play opportunities over the two games.
“The first one is we kind of showed every single team that we can play against everyone and we can beat them. That’s a good thing.”
He agreed he’d have a better perspective on his accomplishments Thursday morning when he’ll almost certainly get the nod to make his third straight start against the Senators while Markstrom recovers from an upper body ailment.
“Obviously I’m going to feel (good) because I can play hockey again,” said Rittich, who only had three starts prior to his twin bill in Toronto. “That’s the best part of playing back-to-back. You don’t have that much time to think about losses or wins. We have to prepare ourselves to play (Thursday).”
Reiterating after the game he never lacked confidence while watching Markstrom play 14 of the first 16 games, the 28-year old credits off-season work with a mental coach back home in the Czech Republic for guiding him through a start in which he was universally praised for his professionalism and attitude.
As he stormed off the ice Wednesday, the man known for kissing posts and exhibiting all sorts of emotion on the ice slammed his stick off the glass, as one would expect.
The heartbreak of seeing a point disappear so quickly after such an inspiring effort would rock anyone.
“So close,” said Mikael Backlund, who spearheaded another gritty defensive effort. “You’re hoping for the win and for him to get a shutout. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. It would have been really impressive if we came out with two shutouts, but we’ll have to move on. Coming in here, playing against the best team in the division so far and getting three out of four, that’s pretty good. The way we were playing going into this trip, we’ll take three out of four.”
Despite constant pressure from the Leafs, who outshot Calgary 39-22, the Flames went up 1-0 with three-and-a-half minutes left as local product Andrew Mangiapane converted a stellar passing play from Elias Lindholm and Matthew Tkachuk.
The Leafs pulled goalie Michael Hutchinson with close to three minutes to play, opening the door for Lindholm to corral a wide pass from Tkachuk and send it off the post with two minutes left.
What unfolded from there will stick with the Flames for a while, as Nylander capped a mad scramble in the blue paint with a game-tying shot from his knees that snuck between Rittich’s pads.
One minute into overtime Sean Monahan was easily beaten wide by Nylander, who went from his backhand to forehand before roofing the winner on a night in which everyone from Matthews, John Tavares and Morgan Rielly to Ilya Mikheyev and Alexander Barabanov were victimized by Rittich’s brilliance.
“When we needed the big stop he was able to make it,” said head coach Geoff Ward of Rittich, who has had plenty of setbacks since playing in last year’s All-Star Game. “He gave us a chance to win both hockey games. It’s disappointing for him the way tonight ended because he played so well, but he battled both games. He’s coming off two strong performances and he’s a guy who traditionally once he starts trending in this direction he’s able to maintain it.”
That’s the hope for a Flames team that has a golden opportunity to make up some ground as the last Canadian team to feast on the Senators.
And Rittich may very well be the one to carry the load during this crucial stretch.
“He did an awful lot of work in the summer to get himself prepared -- he spent some time with a mental skills coach to work on his concentration, and did some conditioning and did an awful lot of work with his goalie coach,” said Ward. “I think he’s handled the situation extremely well. I think he feels comfortable now. It’s a good tandem and if you can have two strong goalies moving toward the second half and a condensed schedule (it’s beneficial).
"I really admire what he’s done in terms of the work, how he’s prepared himself and how he’s come in and worried about only what he can control. Kudos to him.”
