Analysis: Tough goalie matchups await Penguins in potential 1st-round series

Just over a year ago, Calgary Flames coach Darryl Sutter created a viral moment as he candidly weighed in on the prospects of a first-round playoffs series with the Colorado Avalanche, the best team in the Western Conference in 2021-22.

“I sure as (heck) don’t want to play Colorado in the first round, because it’s going to be a waste of eight days.”

Sutter’s remarks were as blunt as they were prophetic.

The fate of the wild-card team to take on Colorado in the first round? A four-game sweep in eight days, suffered by the Nashville Predators, true to Sutter’s prediction.

Similar expectations surround the Eastern Conference club that has the misfortune of entering this year’s playoffs as the second wild card, which entails a first-round matchup with the Boston Bruins, who at 51-11-5 and boasting 107 points, are looking like a lock to win the Presidents’ Trophy for best record in the NHL.

To whomever that ends up being, offer some well-wishes and say a prayer.

While the Bruins are not lacking in offensive prowess (10 players with 10 or more goals), it has been the steady play of goaltender Linus Ullmark that has been a major component of the team’s success. Ullmark’s 33 wins lead the NHL, as does his 1.97 goals-against average and .935 save percentage among goalies who have played more than a handful of games.

On nights Boston has rested Ullmark, backup Jeremy Swayman has been dependable. He’s 17-6-4 with a 2.28 GAA.

For comparison’s sake, the Penguins’ Tristan Jarry is 20-8-6 with a .910 save percentage and a 2.96 GAA, and backup Casey DeSmith is 13-14-4 with a 3.08 GAA.

The Bruins boast a reputation as a heavy contender to win the Stanley Cup, ready to ride roughshod over every team standing in their way come the playoffs.

The Penguins are a possible first-round opponent.

With 14 regular-season games remaining, the Penguins are battling with the New York Islanders for control of the top wild-card spot in the East, with both teams at 78 points as of Friday. Florida, Washington and Buffalo remain in close pursuit.

It’s not a given the Penguins will qualify for the playoffs, let alone match up with Boston in the first round, but that scenario remains a distinct possibility.

In similar fashion to the Penguins and Islanders being neck-and-neck for spots No. 7 and 8 in the Eastern Conference playoffs race, Carolina and New Jersey are engaged in a tight battle for second and third.

Were the Penguins to stay in possession of the first-wild card spot, they would avoid the buzzsaw Bruins, but far from favorable goaltending matchups would be provided by either the Carolina Hurricanes or New Jersey Devils.

To avoid a wild-card matchup, the Penguins would need to overtake the New York Rangers, who, after beating the Penguins on Thursday, are ahead by 10 points and sit third in the Metropolitan Division standings.

Carolina has utilized an effective rotation of three netminders this season, with Frederik Andersen (2.41), Antti Raanta (2.32) and Pyotr Kochetkov (2.25) having sub-2.50 goals-against averages.

Andersen has 24 starts, compared to Raanta’s 23 and Kochetkov’s 21.

The Devils are in the midst of a fluid goaltending situation that could change by the playoffs. Mackenzie Blackwood has been on injured reserve since Feb. 19. In November, he suffered an MCL sprain that caused him to miss about six weeks, as well.

He has been limited to 16 starts and has an 8-5-2 record with a 3.04 GAA.

Vitek Vanecek has seen the lion’s share of starts (40) for New Jersey, going 28-8-3 with a 2.52 GAA.

To buttress Vanacek, the Devils are utilizing the services of 22-year-old rookie Akira Schmid, who is with the team on an emergency loan from the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League.

Through his multiple stints with the Devils this year, Schmid has accumulated a 1.98 GAA in 15 games, rivaling that of Ullmark, who likely will win the Vezina Trophy.

When Blackwood is reactivated, New Jersey’s front office will need to decide whether to burn a post-trade deadline call-up on Schmid or send him back to the AHL.

While Blackwood’s status remains to be determined, without him, New Jersey still has a solid one-two punch in net.

There’s still a good deal of regular-season hockey to be played, and the postseason picture remains far from clear. But a first-round series with either Boston, Carolina or New Jersey would have the Penguins at a clear goaltending disadvantage.