Jarry Out Week-to-Week with Lower-Body Injury
"It takes a certain mindset to be able to overcome all the challenges that this league inevitably presents," the Penguins head coach said. "It's a hard league. It doesn't always go your way, and you gotta find ways to fight through that stuff. Sometimes it's throughout the course of the game, sometimes it's game to game, sometimes it's week to week."
Unfortunately, week-to-week is how long starting goaltender Tristan Jarry will be out with a lower-body injury, presenting the Penguins with potentially their biggest test yet as they enter the final stretch of the regular season.
He made 29 saves in their win over New York, but did not travel with the Penguins for their game in Boston, as he was being evaluated. And before Pittsburgh's 2-1 loss to the Bruins this afternoon, Sullivan provided the aforementioned timetable on the 26-year-old netminder.
Injuries are always difficult, but especially when a) it's such a key player and b) at this point of the year. The Penguins have five games remaining, with the finale scheduled for Friday, April 30 against Carolina at PPG Paints Arena, and the playoffs set to begin shortly after that.
"That's tough," forward Teddy Blueger said. "I think he's having an incredible year, and obviously, he finished out the game. So I think when that happened, no one thought anything of it until we saw him after the game, and he wasn't doing too well. So it's tough to see. Obviously, we'll be there for him to kind of keep his spirits up, and hopefully give him a chance to come back and play some more this year."
Following last year's first round exit, which was disappointing on both a personal and team level for Jarry, he bounced back with an All-Star season highlighted by reaching the 30-win mark for the first time in his career. But what the numbers don't necessarily show is how the Penguins likely wouldn't be in their current position without his excellent play.
"We had guys out with COVID, injuries, surgeries… Jars saved us a bunch of games. He's been unreal all year," defenseman Kris Letang said.
Now, that next-man-up mentality applies to the net, as the Penguins will be relying on backup goaltender Casey DeSmith for the foreseeable future as they look to do what they can to put themselves in the best scenario possible entering the playoffs.
"He's week to week, we don't know what's going to happen. But I obviously feel for him after the year he's had," DeSmith said. "He's been fantastic from start to finish. So obviously, I hope he's back. I wish him nothing but the best."
From a mindset standpoint, DeSmith said nothing changes - his main focus is always about going out there and giving the team a chance to win. The only difference is simply getting more playing time ahead of the 30-year-old potentially making his NHL postseason debut.
"So good for me going into playoffs to get some more games in, and if I have to play at all in the playoffs, then I'll be that much more prepared," said DeSmith, who has compiled a 40-27-11 record in 91 career NHL games, all with Pittsburgh since signing with the organization in 2017. "So for me, just kind of focusing on my game and going out there and doing the best I can."
That's what DeSmith tried to do in Pittsburgh's matinee at TD Garden. It got off to a rough start for the Penguins, with the Bruins scoring twice in the opening 2:01.
First, Trent Frederic buried a rebound before Erik Haula's shot deflected in off Marcus Pettersson and in. But from there, both DeSmith and the Penguins regrouped and played a solid remaining 58 minutes.
"I think he's a great goalie, and he has been throughout his career. He played another great game tonight," Blueger said. "Made some big saves for us down the stretch. He's extremely competitive, and he competes extremely hard on every shot - practice, pregame skate, game, whatever it is. He expects the best from himself, so he sets the bar high for himself. He's very competitive. And I think he's a great goalie. So I think we all know he's gonna get it done for us, and all the guys believe in him."
