Tristan Jarry will return to the Penguins’ net for Friday’s contest against the New York Rangers at PPG Paints Arena.
Coach Mike Sullivan announced Jarry will be the team’s starting goaltender Friday morning.
Jarry has not played since he allowed three goals on six shots during a 5-2 road loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Jan. 15.
The start to Jarry’s first season as the organization’s top goaltender has not gone smoothly. In two games, he has an 0-2-0 record along with a 7.57 goals-against average and a .727 save percentage.
For the past two contests, each home wins against the Washington Capitals, Casey DeSmith started in net as Jarry ironed out the wrinkles to his game with goaltending coach Mike Buckley.
“(Jarry has) had a couple of real good practices,” Sullivan said. “He’s a real good goalie. We believe in him. We know he’s a very capable goalie. He had an opportunity to have a couple of real good practices and just get his mindset where it needs to be and be ready to stop the puck.”
Notes:
• DeSmith recorded his first career assist during Tuesday’s 5-4 overtime win against the Capitals when he flung a puck up ice to spring forward Teddy Blueger on a breakaway that resulted in a three-on-five short-handed goal, only the third such score in franchise history.
Jarry isn’t exactly a slouch with his stick either. During the 2017-18 American Hockey League season, he became the first (and still only) goaltender in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins history to score. During the final moments of a 5-1 home win against the Springfield Falcons, Jarry flipped a puck down ice into an empty net.
Sullivan indicated Buckley regularly devotes attention to that aspect of the game when he works with both goaltenders.
“It’s certainly something that they work on, on a consistent basis,” Sullivan said. “When you have goaltenders that have the ability to play the puck, it helps you in so many different ways. It helps the defensemen on the breakouts. Tristan, in particular, is really, really good at playing the puck. It helps our gameplan as far as exiting our zone, just getting out more efficiently. It is something that I know that we work on, on a consistent basis with our guys. Goalies that play the puck well certainly can help the defensemen out there.”
• The Penguins had an optional morning skate.
• Penguins defensive prospect P.O Joseph was recalled from the taxi squad and is expected to make his NHL debut.
• The Rangers are expected to start goaltender Igor Shesterkin. In two games this season, he has a 0-1-0 record along with a 3.09 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage.
