Mike Smith Leaves Islanders Game with 1 sec

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Unless you clinch playoffs, you ride Rittich until Smith is ready.

If they clinch with a couple games left then you can throw Gillies a bone.

Exactly correct.

[sureLoss]

https://twitter.com/user/status/964905437895077888

[Locke]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

https://twitter.com/user/status/964905437895077888

Great news, but I hope they ride Rittich as hard as they can for the time being.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Locke

Great news, but I hope they ride Rittich as hard as they can for the time being.

I think so long as Smith is healthy you get him back into game action. I would like to see Rittich get another six or seven starts or so down the stretch, but Smith also needs to be in a good rhythm heading into the postseason.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I think so long as Smith is healthy you get him back into game action. I would like to see Rittich get another six or seven starts or so down the stretch, but Smith also needs to be in a good rhythm heading into the postseason.

Theres 24 games left. Lots of games to share, and while I agree that we want Smith in his groove before (potentially) playoffs, he also needs to rest.

Hes played 47 games already.