The Pittsburgh Penguins were forced to turn to their third-string goalie at a most inopportune time.

Louis Domingue came on with 10 minutes, 42 seconds left in the second overtime period of what ended up a 4-3 triple-overtime win in Tuesday’s Game 1 first-round playoff series at the New York Rangers. Domingue entered the game after Casey DeSmith left the ice because of a lower-body injury.

After the game, coach Mike Sullivan did not expand on DeSmith’s injury other than to say he was “being evaluated” and that his status for future games was “day to day.”

During a stoppage in play, DeSmith skated to the bench to consult with Penguins’ staff. ESPN announcers noted that DeSmith had “a limp” as he retreated through a tunnel at Madison Square Garden.

Domingue in net pic.twitter.com/GFhvwmqdhp

— x - Rangers on MSG (@RangersMSGN) May 4, 2022

DeSmith was making his postseason debut. The Penguins’ No. 2 goalie this season, DeSmith had been promoted since All-Star Tristan Jarry suffered a lower-body injury during an April 14 win against the New York Islanders.

DeSmith stopped 48 of 51 shots before he left the game.

Domingue played in two NHL regular-season games this season, going 1-1-0 with a 2.02 goals-against average and .952 save percentage. He went 10-9-2 with a 2.41 GAA and .924 save percentage for the Penguins’ AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Domingue has played in 142 games over parts of eight NHL seasons for six teams. He had 18 minutes of postseason experience, coming while in relief during one game for the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2018.

DeSmith had played his best hockey of the season late in the campaign for the Penguins, going 5-2-1 with a 2.47 GAA and .930 save percentage since March 31.

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