Hobbled Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry makes valiant, ill-fated return in Game 7 loss

NEW YORK – Tristan Jarry didn’t look like the goaltender who melted down less than a year ago.

Almost the moment he took the ice at Madison Square Garden on Sunday in Game 7 of the Penguins’ first-round playoff series, he looked comfortable.

That was evident when he coolly swallowed a backhander by Rangers star forward Chris Kreider only 28 seconds into regulation.

And even if his team lost in a heartbreaking fashion, 4-3, in overtime and saw their 2021-22 campaign come to an abrupt halt, Jarry gave his team a legitimate chance to claim victory.

Only 354 days prior, Jarry looked feeble and melted down in a first-round loss to the New York Islanders that lasted only six games.

During Sunday’s game, he looked like the Penguins’ No. 1 All-Star goaltender.

After Sunday’s game, he looked like he could barely stand.

Speaking with media for the first time since he suffered a right foot injury on April 14 that had kept him sidelined for over a month, Jarry hobbled considerably in and out of the press conference area while wearing an ice bag on his damaged right foot.

Tristan Jarry has an ice bag on his right foot: pic.twitter.com/RlzP3ZQrCF

— Seth Rorabaugh (@SethRorabaugh) May 16, 2022

Jarry declined to discuss specifics of his injury, but he was clearly not 100%. Despite that, he gutted out a desperate performance in a Game 7 in a futile effort to keep his team in the playoffs.

“I was able to play,” Jarry said curtly when asked about his status.

Jarry made 26 saves on 30 shots in the defeat that largely turned into a duel with Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin.

Each goaltender came up with some highlight reel saves. For Jarry, his finest moment might have been a denial of Rangers forward Tyler Motte on a short-handed breakaway at 8:39 of the third period.

Even with the defeat, Jarry had made accelerated efforts in recent days in order to get himself into some level of condition in order to return to the lineup.

“It was just … getting in position to play,” Jarry said. “Trying to work back as quick as I could. It was obviously tough watching. (Backup goaltender Casey DeSmith and reserve Louis Domingue) did a great job. Obviously, you want to be in there battling with them every night. That was something that hurt the most, is just not being able to be out there and just go to battle with the guys.”

His resolve was lauded by teammates.

“It’s just unbelievable,” forward Jake Guentzel said. “The guy has been through a lot. He’s been our rock all year long. Just to see him out there in Game 7 just fighting the way he does, it’s just unbelievable what that guy does for our team. It’s just tough when you don’t get the win for him, just with how hard he battled. He made a lot of saves for us.”

Jarry was the third goaltender the Penguins had used in the series. DeSmith, the backup, started Game 1 on May 3 but suffered a season-ending core muscle injury during the second overtime period of that contest. Domingue replaced DeSmith and became something of a folk hero when he revealed he had eaten a spicy pork and broccoli dinner during the game before claiming a 4-3 victory in the third overtime period of that contest.

After Domingue had guided the Penguins to a 3-1 series lead, the Penguins dropped Games 5 and 6 (each 5-3 losses on Wednesday and Friday, respectively).

With the gravity of Game 7, the decision to go with Jarry was an easy one once he was medically cleared.

“He’s our No. 1 goalie,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “When he was deemed ready to play, we were going to put him in the net because he gives us the best chance to win. He had a (heck) of a game.”

Less than a year ago, Jarry was maligned for his role in the Penguins’ first-round defeat.

On Sunday, his role in another first-round setback can be viewed very differently.

“Just being able to play, I was grateful for that,” Jarry said. “I was grateful that they trusted to put me in for that. If anything had happened, I wanted to be in for that. I wanted to give it my best shot.”

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