Calum Ritchie has spent the past several weeks showcasing the most polished form of his young career in a determined bid to crack the New York Islanders’ Opening Night roster. Yet, as so often happens, life has a way of intervening just when momentum seems to be on your side.
Ritchie turned in a strong performance during the Islanders’ 4–3 preseason win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, but the night ended on a sour note. He sustained a lower-body injury during the game and has been ruled out for one to two weeks, temporarily halting his bid to secure a roster spot.