Fresh and Fueled Domingue Thrust into Action During Double Overtime

Over the summer, baking enthusiast Louis Domingue posted a video to his social media asking fans what recipe they wanted to see next.
After what transpired in Game 1, the people have spoken: spicy pork and broccoli.

That's the meal the Penguins netminder ate following the first overtime period on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden before replacing the injured Casey DeSmith midway through the second overtime.
"It was not great. I needed something in my belly," Domingue said with a laugh. "Maybe it sustained my energy."
It must have, as a fresh and fueled Domingue made 17 saves - including several really difficult ones - in relief to help backstop Pittsburgh
to a 4-3 triple overtime victory
. He became the first goaltender in NHL history to enter a playoff game in the second overtime period or later.
"I know Louis is unbelievable," said Evgeni Malkin, who scored the game-winner. "He's big, he's fast. I'm not nervous. It's hard to score on Louis in practice. The only (concern) is maybe he's cold a little bit, but he made a couple saves right away, and we feel we're fine."
This is an opportunity that Domingue, 30, had been working towards ever since he signed a one-year contract with Pittsburgh as a free agent in September, just a couple of months after sharing his offseason baking adventures.
While Domingue felt like coming to the Penguins would be a great experience regardless of where he fell on the depth chart - and for most of the year, that was third - one of his goals was always to be here for the playoffs. After spending most of the season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Domingue got that chance with All-Star goalie Tristan Jarry currently day-to-day with a lower-body injury that has sidelined him since April 14.
And while of course, the nature of the backup goalie position is to try and be ready and prepared at all times - with Domingue saying recently
"my job is to be ready when called upon"
- tonight's turn of events was so unusual that he didn't fully comprehend what was happening at first. Especially because with how Madison Square Garden is set up.
Normally, the backup goalie sits at the end of the bench in every arena, but here, there wasn't enough room for Domingue as it had been shortened to allow for fan seating along the glass. So Domingue was off on an island in a corner of the rink, just hanging out by himself on a chair, trying not to get too caught up in the action.
"I'd be lying if I said that I was engaged the whole time. It comes a time where you're just a fan, also," he said, "You just want your team to score, and I was just focusing. I was just there; I was watching and it just comes at you fast. It's crazy."

With 10:42 left in double overtime, DeSmith skated to the bench for a talk with head athletic trainer Chris Stewart. After a brief discussion, DeSmith headed to the locker room and did not return, with Sullivan saying afterward that the netminder is currently being evaluated. He made 48 saves on 51 shots before his night ended, with Domingue saying DeSmith had given them a hell of a chance to win the game.
"I saw him go to the bench and I wasn't sure why they just blew the whistle," Domingue said. "It happened that I know both of the referees that were there, Johnny Murray and Frederick L'Ecuyer, both French guys. I honestly thought that they were joking with me when they were saying that I had to go in. After that, you just go out and play. It was crazy, but I guess that's my life. It's hockey."
What helped Domingue have success is just going in with a free spirit. He'd done what he could during practices, his games with WBS and his two games with Pittsburgh this season to build a good foundation. And at this point, even the referees told him that he was either ready, or he wasn't. Fortunately, it was the former.
"Quite honestly, I felt good right away," said Domingue, who had just 18 minutes of NHL playoff experience with Tampa Bay in 2018 prior to this. "I felt zero pressure. You dream about that your whole life; you're playing in overtime in the playoffs. Are you kidding me? (Laughs) You think that you would be nervous going into a situation like that, but it was just fun for me."
Domingue said it felt a lot different on the other side of the glass, but that the guys in front of him battled extremely hard and played super well to earn the win. Afterward, they sprinted down and excitedly mobbed Domingue, who was then awarded the postgame helmet by Marcus Pettersson - with Louis accepting on both his and Casey's behalf.

Sullivan said that they'll see how it goes moving forward when it comes to their goalie situation. The way it stands right now, DeSmith is out with a status of day-to-day, but they'll see what happens Wednesday and make decisions accordingly. In the meantime, Domingue is going to continue being ready as possible to handle whatever's thrown his way.
"I'm pretty happy to be where I am today," Domingue said. "I'm lucky to be playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, obviously. It's a hell of a team, and I feel pretty lucky to be here."