from Eric Francis of Sportsnet,

Just like that, Big Save Dave was reduced to Rapidly Removed Rittich.

Thirteen minutes, six shots and two bad goals into a highly-anticipated showdown with San Jose, David Rittich was given the Mike Keenan treatment by coach Bill Peters Thursday night.

Yes, both goals were uncharacteristically sizeable lapses by the typically stable sophomore. But no, he never should have been given the hook. No way, no how.

Given how razor sharp he’s been all season long to catapult the Flames to tops in the west, he deserved the chance to make amends. His teammates likely wanted the same, as they’ve previously cherished the chance to bail him out as the team did in Philadelphia a month earlier....

This wasn’t the way to handle the team’s most important asset this season.

That was made clear by the way he skated ever so slowly to the bench with his head down, clearly stunned, frustrated and embarrassed by his two gaffes. More humiliating was being forced to give way to backup Mike Smith in front of a Saddledome gathering that had yet to see Rittich lose a single game in regulation at home this season....

More to the point, one wonders if Rittich will be able to forget it.

“The coach pull[ed] me and after [the] second goal it was maybe [the] right thing,” said Rittich when asked if he was surprised by the hook.

“I’m going home to sleep and I want to be ready for the next practice and game and be better than tonight.”

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Below, watch the two bad goals Rittich gave up last night and the game highlights of Calgary's 5-2 loss to San Jose.