The Pittsburgh Penguins could elect to send down a defenseman once goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic returns from injury. Pittsburgh Penguins starting goalie Tristan Jarry departed the contest against the Anaheim Ducks early with what appeared to be an upper-body injury. Jarry’s head was clipped by an opposing player, knocking his helmet loose before a puck struck him in the same area; the Penguins were forced to finish the game with Magnus Hellberg in goal. There was no immediate update provided on Jarry’s status, and it’s very possible he is good to go for the next contest, but it’s also very possible he’s dealing with something. Head coach Mike Sullivan stated that Jarry is considered day-to-day for the time being. If Jarry is unable to perform, the Penguins are in a bit of a bind, but could easily find their way out of it with short-term, in-house replacements. While backup netminder Alex Nedeljkovic is on the shelf, he can return from long-term injured reserve as soon as November 19 against the Vegas Golden Knights. In the meantime, Hellberg has some noticeable NHL experience and could easily work for the time being. Last season, while playing on the same Detroit Red Wings team, Hellberg appeared in more NHL games than Nedeljkovic with 17 and a 4-8-1 record. The numbers aren’t great, but thankfully, it would only be a short-term fix; plus, Hellberg has looked useful in his first two appearances in black and gold. Only two goals against on 28 shots faced in 56 minutes of ice is good for a .929 save percentage. Hellberg also helped complete the fifth combined shutout in franchise history with 11 saves in the last 20+ minutes. As a spot starter, Hellberg can work just fine, behind him, however, is where the Penguins’ options open up. New president and general manager Kyle Dubas worked diligently to retool the Penguins goaltending depth over his first summer in Pittsburgh. Hellberg and Nedeljkovic were part of the changes, but so was Garret Sparks who signed to an AHL contract. If the Penguins need a face to serve as a backup, he’s a perfect option. Beyond Sparks, however, the Penguins would have to settle for one of their two main goalie prospects in Joel Blomqvist or Taylor Gauthier. Again, both would likely serve just as backup to Hellberg for a time, but it could be useful NHL experience. Blomqvist played really well in his ice time at both the Prospect Challenge and during his few games during the preseason. Neither name is ready for a full-time NHL leap, but gaining some knowledge and experience could go a long way in their growth. Jarry is still being evaluated and it's not yet clear what next steps the Penguins need to take. The Penguins are equipped enough within themselves to carry if Jarry does miss some time. Make sure you bookmark Inside the Penguins [http://insidethepenguins.com/]for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more. Penguins To Terminate Contract of AHL Forward [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/pittsburgh-penguins-terminate-contract-andreas-johnsson] Penguins Could Explore Waiver Wire for Goalie Help [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/players/pittsburgh-penguins-explore-jack-campbell-goalie-help] Penguins Forward Continues To Prove Worth in Lineup [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/players/pittsburgh-penguins-radim-zohorna-prove-worth-lineup] GAME RECAP: Penguins Derail Ducks Win Streak With 2-0 Victory [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/podcasts/pittsburgh-penguins-derail-anaheim-ducks-victory] Penguins Have No Immediate Update On Tristan Jarry [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/pittsburgh-penguins-no-update-tristan-jarry] * undefined * undefined
