Tristan Jarry said Wednesday afternoon he hadn’t been told who will begin the playoffs as the Pittsburgh Penguins’ starting goalie. Sitting 6 feet to Jarry’s right, alternate captain Kris Letang indicated he didn’t know, either.

The dozen or so reporters on the line during the video conference call with those players? If all goes by design from the Penguins’ end, they will be the last to know if Jarry or Matt Murray is in net for the resumption of the NHL season Saturday.

But what about the man entrusted with that decision: coach Mike Sullivan? He has established over his 4 ½-year tenure he won’t confirm even the most obvious lineup choice. “Game-time decision” might be the three most common words Sullivan uses.

Sullivan upped the ante Wednesday, 72 hours before faceoff of Game 1 of the Penguins’ playoff opener against the Montreal Canadiens. Not only did Sullivan decline to reveal his goaltending decision, he refused to acknowledge if he even made it yet.

“I’d rather not divulge the process that we go through and how we make the decisions we make,” Sullivan said. “That’s just part of this coaching staff’s philosophies and the way we have gone about our business here.”

With practices and morning skates closed to independent media, it is possible Sullivan’s choice might end up literally being a “game-time decision” that is not known until 8 p.m. Saturday.

“I haven’t been told anything,” Jarry said. “I am just taking it day by day and making sure our practice habits are staying where they need to be for Matt and I. We’re preparing like we both will be playing, and whoever gets the call on Saturday, we’ll be ready.”

The debate among fans intensified after Murray allowed seven goals and Jarry zero during an intrasquad scrimmage July 18. Jarry (.921 save percentage, 2.43 goals-against average) outperformed Murray (.899, 2.87) during the coronavirus-interrupted regular season. Jarry was selected for All-Star weekend.

Murray, of course, has two Stanley Cup rings, with six shutouts, a 1.95 GAA and .928 save percentage during the Penguins’ championship runs in 2016 and ‘17. In the two postseasons since, though, Murray is 6-10 with a 2.57 GAA and .907 save percentage. He has lost eight of his past nine postseason starts.

That will make Sullivan’s decision highly scrutinized.

“That type of decision is never an easy decision because these players are both very good players, and they are both very capable players,” Sullivan said. “They are competitive guys. The coaching staff will make the best decision and what we think is best for the team. But we really like how both these guys have tracked throughout the training camp to this point.”

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Sullivan said he thought each goalie played well during Tuesday’s exhibition against the Philadelphia Flyers. A prearranged plan called for each to play about a half the game. Murray stopped 10 of 12 shots and Jarry nine of 10. None of the goals either allowed would be considered egregious.

Sullivan wasn’t afraid to buck convention with regard to goalies during the Cup runs of 2016 and ‘17. Each year, he switched starters mid-run for reasons other than injury. On a more macro level, he transitioned the franchise from a Cup-winning veteran (Marc-Andre Fleury) to a younger heir apparent.

The same scenario could play out in the coming weeks if Sullivan eschews Murray for Jarry.

“That’s part of the responsibility of a head coach in making the types of decisions, (the criteria for which is) that it’s best for the hockey team and gives them the best chance to win,” Sullivan said. “I don’t think it’s any more complicated than that. It’s, I guess, simple in nature but it’s difficult when you are in those types of situations.”

Keep up with the Pittsburgh Penguins all season long.

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