Mike Sullivan has always ridden the hot hand with Pittsburgh Penguins goalies, this needs to be no different.

PITTSBURGH - It’s that time of year where the goaltender might make or break the Pittsburg Penguins’ season.

With nine games remaining in the 2022-23 season, it might be time to ride the hot hand and make Casey DeSmith the starting goalie for the Penguins.

Tristan Jarry’s inconsistencies not only in his play, but his health, have continued to get in the way of him reaching his full potential.

Meanwhile, DeSmith proved in a huge way against the Washington Capitals that he an hold his own in pressure situations.

Sure, he was part of letting a 3-0 lead slip away, but he made multiple massive saves to keep the Penguins in the game.

Three times in the second period, DeSmith stood on his head and kept some of the Capitals’ top skaters from tallying important goals.

Two of those occasions occurred off of chances involving one of the greatest goal scorers of all-time in Alex Ovechkin.

“My leg was just long enough,” DeSmith said. “I’m not very tall, but I had that one inch that I needed.”

While big saves don’t equate to a starting role, they do push in the right direction, especially when DeSmith is making the important ones.

Following a 31-save performance, DeSmith said how much he enjoys playing no matter the situation.

“I always want to play,” DeSmith said. “No secret that every person in this league wants to play as much as they can, and I’m no different.”

DeSmith followed by saying he understands that it’s the coaching staff’s decision on who starts in net, and head coach Mike Sullivan knows it’s never an easy choice.

“We’ll make those decisions accordingly game-to-game,” Sullivan said. “Without a doubt I think Casey is making a strong case for himself.”

Sullivan is usually a coach who will ride the hot hand in goal, and right now, that’s DeSmith.

Maybe once playoffs come around, you test the waters again with Jarry, but he has to have a short leash going forward.

Make sure you bookmark Inside the Penguins for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more!

Casey DeSmith Comes Up Big, Penguins Come Up Bigger in Win Over Capitals

Penguins Re-Assign Goalie Dustin Tokarski

Mike Sullivan Admires Having 'Front Row Seat' to Penguins/Capitals Rivalry

Jason Zucker In, Penguins Backup Goalie Game-Time Decision

Sidney Crosby Gives Penguins a Real Chance at Postseason

• undefined
• undefined