The Pittsburgh Penguins finally have their starting goalie back in net, and he brings a boost of skill and confidence.
PITTSBURGH - It was announced by head coach Mike Sullivan that Tristan Jarry will be back in goal for the Pittsburgh Penguins after missing 16 of the last 18 games with an injury.
Jarry’s time away coincided with the Penguins hitting an extremely inconsistent stretch that saw them struggling to win games.
Casey DeSmith was forced to take an increased role and went as far to make eight consecutive starts.
Clearly the team was asking for a lot from DeSmith, but now all eyes will turn to Jarry as he makes his long awaited return.
Aside from the obvious factor of being a starting goalie, what else is Jarry bringing to the table as he returns between the pipes?
Jarry is bringing a level of stability and confidence that has been missing from the Penguins lineup; in Jarry’s absence the team has gone 7-7-2.
“When he’s been in the net, he’s been really solid for us,” Sullivan said. “We’re anxious to get him back.”
In the pair of game Jarry appeared in between his stints off of the ice, he recorded points with a win and an overtime loss.
During his time away, Jarry was working his best not only to get healthy, but maintain a pace that matched game action, despite being away.
As the return neared, the Penguins amped up the conditioning to get Jarry ready to play.
“His conditioning, his timing, his ability to track the puck, all of that get’s better with each session,” Sullivan said. “Everyone feels strongly that he’s in a position right now that he can help us.”
Jarry is returning to a Penguins team on the verge of a landslide; they haven’t won against a Metropolitan Division opponent in eight games and that’s an immediate test for him.
The New York Islanders will be Jarry’s first opponent back and he’s ready to help the team down the stretch.
“He’s feeling good, he’s feeling strong,” Sullivan said. “We’re excited to get him back.”
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