October 17, 2024 | 11:56am ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

CONCERNS OVER JARRY IN PITTSBURGH?

Tristan Jarry, goaltender

The Pittsburgh Penguins managed to pull off a 6-5 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday, but continued concern arose over the play of goaltender Tristan Jarry.

Jarry gave up three goals on his first five shots he faced Wednesday and was ultimately pulled for Joel Blomqvist, who recorded the victory in net.

In less than three full games, Jarry has given up 12 goals and currently owns a 5.47 goals-against-average and a .833 save percentage. He is in the second year of a five-year, $26.875 million contract and owns a 12-team no-trade list as part of his contract.

Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan would not directly address the questions surrounding Jarry’s performance after Wednesday’s game, only to admit he was part of the problem in the early going of the game.

“It was just a tough start for our whole team, quite honestly,” Sullivan said. “It wasn’t even close to our best game out there. We just felt that given the way the game started that it was the right thing to make the switch. I think Tristan was a victim of that, to a certain extent. He was also part of it, to a certain extent.”

On Thursday, the Penguins activated goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic from Injured Reserve and assigned him to AHL on a conditioning loan.

With Blomqvist performing well and Nedeljkovic on the mend – he is expected to play Friday for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton – the Penguins may be faced with a difficult decision regarding Jarry’s future if he does not turn his game around.

Moving a struggling goaltender with a $5.375 million salary cap hit may be a tough task for GM Kyle Dubas, who could ride three goalies or if Jarry’s struggles continue, he could send the netminder down to the AHL, should he clear waivers, in an attempt to get him back on track.

Jarry, 29, is making $6.4 million in total salary this season, including a $1 million bonus that has already been paid out.