Goalies want their play to be a solution
It would be harsh and inaccurate to say the Penguins have struggled solely because of Tristan Jarry or Casey DeSmith. From a leaky penalty kill to inconsistent depth scoring to recent issues with Pittsburgh’s top line, the blame has been widespread.
Then again, while the Penguins ( 6- 7- 3) have dropped nine of 11 to plunge to seventh in the Metropolitan division, they also haven’t won many games because of their goaltending, either. They allow 3.56 goals a game, and only six clubs have been worse.
After winning his first four starts while posting a
2.02 goals-against average and .941 save percentage — sparkling numbers that beget long-term extension talk — Jarry has gone 0-3-2 in his past five, with a 4.77 goalsagainst average and .870 save percentage.
“I need to make more saves,” Jarry told the PostGazette after Wednesday’s practice at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, when asked what he’d like to change with his game. “The league’s transitioning into more goals and more high-scoring games, so just being able to manage when you’re up, being able to manage the things that you can and control what you can. That’s something that I have to do a better job of.”
Call it whatever you want. The Penguins simply haven’t gotten enough key stops from Jarry at crucial teams.
Like in the third period or overtime, when Jarry has a .796 save percentage in his last five. Or on high-danger saves, with DeSmith (.750) and Jarry (.761) ranking 59th and 60th among the 66 netminders who’ve logged at least 100 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time this season.
Also the penalty kill, where only five goaltenders league-wide have permitted more goals than Jarry (9).
“Nobody plays this game to lose, and it’s definitely frustrating when you’ve lost a couple in a row,” Jarry said. “You want to help the team. I think that’s the most frustrating part about it. You’re trying your best, and it’s not working.
“Just making sure you’re doing everything you can and not doing too much. I think when you start doing too much and start trying to do other guys’ jobs, it overpowers everything. It doesn’t work together with our team game.”
Enter DeSmith. Not only did he play well in Washington and Toronto, stopping 52 of 55 shots to help the Penguins snap a seven-game losing skid, but he plays a key role when it comes to getting Jarry right.
The two netminders get along, and there’s zero bickering about playing time or roles. Jarry knows he’s the starter. DeSmith knows he’s the backup. They’re both focused on doing their jobs well, which for DeSmith means being a sounding board for Jarry.
“We just support each other and encourage each other,” DeSmith said. “We go through the same kind of things. I just try to be there for him. I think that’s my main job as a good goalie partner.”
That relationship has been especially important this season, the result of the Penguins’ collective save percentage (.896) ranking only 22nd and their high-danger save percentage (.766) the thirdworst in the entire NHL.
Jarry on Saturday in Montreal brought up physical “issues” that he was working through, although coach Mike Sullivan said they have not affected how he’s deployed his goaltenders.
Asked after practice about any physical limitations, Jarry had zero interest in disclosing more.
“I’m not gonna answer that,” Jarry said politely, reiterating the same answer on a follow-up question about when an injury may have occurred. Doesn’t matter.
If Jarry is healthy enough to play, he should be counted upon to produce. From his spot behind the bench, Sullivan said he isn’t worried. Jarry and DeSmith have been good for one another. It’s also not a question of effort.
“Casey and Tristan have a real good relationship,” Sullivan said. “They lean on one another. They support one another. They root for one another. Depending on which guy is in the net, they’re both real capable guys. They care and want to help us win.
“That’s one of the things that I admire about the group we have: The care factor on this team is as high as I’ve seen. We’ve got to continue to stay invested. We’ve got to continue to help one another, and we’ll do that. I think Casey and Tristan are trying to do that as goaltenders.”
Top-six shuffle
Although the Penguins did not do line rushes during practice, forwards worked together in groups, and there was one change to note.
Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel had Rickard Rakell on the right side, while Evgeni Malkin and Jason Zucker inherited Bryan Rust — a swap of right wings.
“We’ve got options at our disposal,” Sullivan said. “Sometimes as a coaching staff, you can try and be proactive and see if we can’t affect some positive change with everybody. We’re looking at all of our options. We’ll make decisions accordingly.”
A swap felt inevitable after Tuesday’s 5-2 loss to the Leafs, during which the Crosby line was on the ice for all five goals.
Celebrate, we will
Mired in a 2-for-22 funk (9.1%) funk in the past eight, the Penguins’ power play has been searching for a spark. Rust said the latest trick was to try and celebrate the little things ... including, apparently, goals during practice.
During live special teams work Wednesday, the Penguins power play enjoyed a couple exaggerated celebrations after converting with the man-advantage.
“We’ve been talking about scoring more goals in practice,” Rust said. “To get a few there, I think it kind of gets the energy going. To be able to celebrate a little bit, it only breeds confidence and good things.”
Rust would like to see the Penguins change how frequently they’re putting the puck on net. During the past eight, the Penguins are only 25th in unblocked shot attempts per 60 minutes at 91.63, per Natural Stat Trick.
“We have to be working together, and we have to be shooting,” Rust said. “That’s one thing we’ve been lacking here is having a shooting mentality. I think if we get that going, we’re going to have more success.”