The Pittsburgh Penguins have already sealed their spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, having placed third in the Metropolitan Division. As they get ready to make a run for a Stanley Cup Finals, however, the team was struck with a crippling blow between the sticks, as starting goaltender Tristan Jarry was diagnosed with an injury. Via Mike DeFabo, Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said that Jarry is dealing with a broken bone in his foot, and described it as a “week-to-week” injury.
With just a couple of weeks left in the regular season, the Penguins will surely be hoping Jarry is able to return on the early side of his vague timetable. Missing him for the playoffs would be a huge loss for the team, forcing backup Casey DeSmith to take the reins for the foreseeable future.
Jarry had already been ruled out for Saturday's bout with the Bruins, which they lost 2-1. He's now expected to see significantly more time off the ice, and the Penguins will likely have to at least start the playoffs with DeSmith in the net.
On the year, Jarry has featured in 58 games, winning 34. He's logged 1,573 saves, good for a .919 save percentage, the second-best of his career. His 58-game workload is the most he's ever played in, though the 26-year-old has impressed since grabbing hold of the starting job.
DeSmith, on the other hand, started 19 games for the Penguins this season, winning 8. He recorded a save percentage of .906 on the year, saving 531 shots. The Penguins will hope he can up his game when the stakes are highest and hold down the net until Jarry is able to return to action.