Tristan Jarry Finding Form in Time for Penguins Playoff Push
There are still small flaws in Tristan Jarry's game, but he will be an integral piece of the Pittsburgh Penguins final stretch of the season.
PITTSBURGH - The 2022-23 NHL season has been far from perfect for the Pittsburgh Penguins and a lot of the contention has surrounded their starting goalie.
Tristan Jarry has dealt with multiple injuries this season, but even when he’s healthy and between the pipes for the Penguins, he’s been pretty inconsistent.
A 20-7-6 record is pretty solid for 35 starts, but it’s Jarry’s eye test and a few other stats that are cause for concern.
Jarry is allowing almost three goals each game with a goals against average of 2.86, a career-high mark in five full NHL seasons.
A .913 save percentage isn’t horrible, but it’s the further eyes test that makes people cringe.
Jarry has an great ability to be a puck mover and playmaker as a netminder, which can be useful, but he makes it hard on himself.
Everyone remembers Jarry’s arrant pass in Game 5 against the New York Islanders in 2021, while nothing has been that bad, there are glimpses of those lapses in judgment almost every game.
Battling through injuries isn’t easy, and head coach Mike Sullivan believes that more practices and game action should bring more consistency out of Jarry.
While in the final year of his contract, Jarry agrees and feels himself getting fine tuned for the final run.
“It’s tough scheduling,” Jarry said. “It’s tough without a full-team practice to get reps. You kind of have to find those reps.”
Despite some shifty play in his last outing against the New York Islanders, Jarry put on a show against the New York Rangers.
Jarry made 27 saves and held the fort pretty well in the overtime victory; with multiple huge saves at key moments, it was more of what fans have been wanting to see all season.
“This time of year you want results,” Jarry said. “Everyone’s looking for points. Coming out and putting your best foot forward every game, the results will come.”
Heading into the year, the Penguins needed Jarry to be near Vezina Trophy levels of stellar, but they haven’t gotten it.
Not to say Jarry has been bad, he’s been miles better than any other option the Penguins have right now, but he is at least starting to find a form at the right time.
If Jarry can stay healthy, perform at the level he did against the Rangers, and mitigate the puck handling mishaps, he can help carry this team down the stretch.
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