Rittich surrendered five goals on 13 shots in 15:04 of ice time in Tuesday's 7-2 loss to the Avalanche in Game 1.

EDGE Analysis

The Avalanche's high-octane offense was far more than Rittich could handle. Connor Ingram stopped 30 of 32 shots in relief, which could see Rittich relegated to the backup role for Thursday's Game 2. Regardless of which goalie plays, the Avalanche score far too many goals to make either of them a good DFS option in what's expected to be a fairly quick series.

Rittich will get the starting nod on the road against Colorado for Game 1 on Tuesday, Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rittich will continue to deputize in goal for the Predators while Juuse Saros (lower body) remains sidelined for at least the first two games of the postseason. In his last five appearances, the Czech netminder went 1-0-2 with a disastrous 4.82 GAA and .875 save percentage. Unless Rittich can find another level to his game, Nashville might be too far behind in the series by the time Saros is cleared to play.

Rittich stopped 42 of 46 shots in Thursday's 5-4 shootout win over the Avalanche.

EDGE Analysis

The Predators battled back from an early deficit, and Rittich got better as the game went on. He made all three saves in the shootout to secure the win, his first since March 13. The 29-year-old is up to 6-3-4 with a 3.57 GAA and an .886 save percentage in 17 outings. Juuse Saros (lower body) may not be available to start the playoffs, so it's looking like Rittich could be the Predators' primary goalie going forward. Connor Ingram is expected to start Friday's regular-season finale versus the Coyotes.

Rittich will be between the pipes Thursday in Colorado, John Glennon of NHL.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rittich hasn't emerged victorious since March 13, a span of seven appearances that features an awful 4.67 GAA and .863 save percentage. Colorado's playoff seed is set, but Nashville could leapfrog Dallas and take over the first wild-card spot with a pair of victories, so the Predators should be plenty motivated in this one.

Rittich took over in the third period, allowing two goals on five shots in Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Flames.

EDGE Analysis

Rittich entered the game late in the third period after Juuse Saros left with a lower-body injury. A last-second goal from Matthew Tkachuk tied the game at four before Elias Lindholm's overtime goal stuck Rittich with the loss. The 29-year-old goaltender is now 5-3-4 on the season with a .883 save percentage. With Nashville locked in a wildcard spot, Rittich would see an elevated role heading into the playoffs if Saros is forced to miss extended time.

Rittich allowed five goals on 47 shots in Sunday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Wild.

EDGE Analysis

Rittich was solid given the high volume of shots the Wild put up, but he came up just a couple of seconds short of forcing a shootout. The 29-year-old has been used sparingly behind Juuse Saros this season. Rittich is 5-3-3 with a 3.44 GAA and an .887 save percentage through 15 outings. The Predators have a back-to-back Thursday in Colorado and Friday in Arizona, which should afford him one more start in the regular season.

Rittich will get the starting nod Sunday at home against the Wild.

EDGE Analysis

Rittich stopped all nine shots he faced in relief of Juuse Saros during Saturday's loss to the Lightning. The 29-year-old is now 5-3-2 with a 3.33 GAA and an .886 save percentage through 14 games this season. He stopped 26 of 28 shots in a March 13 win over Minnesota.

Rittich was perfect in relief after taking the Predators' net at 2:08 of the third period Saturday. He made nine saves.

EDGE Analysis

Rittich was solid in relief of starter Juuse Saros. He is 5-3-2 with a 3.33 GAA and .886 save percentage. The Preds are four points up on Vegas for the final Wild Card spot with four games remaining, and the team will likely rely heavily on Saros, not Rittich, to ensure that gap doesn't close.

Rittich allowed four goals on 13 shots after replacing Juuse Saros in the second period of Sunday's 8-3 loss to the Blues.

EDGE Analysis

Saros was pulled after giving up a goal late in the first and three more in the first half of the second period. Rittich couldn't stop the bleeding, allowing four more Blues goals before the second intermission. It's not much of a silver lining for Rittich, but at least he wasn't stuck with the loss since the Predators failed to score four goals of their own, leaving Saros as the goalie of record.

Rittich turned aside 27 shots in Sunday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Penguins.

EDGE Analysis

The two teams traded goals in the first and third periods but Rittich had no chance on the eventual OT winner, as with the Predators defense in scramble mode Sidney Crosby tapped home a feed from Rickard Rakell. The former Flames netminder hadn't seen action since March 22 and has a shaky 3.21 GAA and .891 save percentage on the season, but if Juuse Saros' illness keeps him sidelined beyond Sunday, Rittich could be right back between the pipes Tuesday against the Sharks.