Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry to be sidelined for next 2 games

As they head into the All-Star break, the Pittsburgh Penguins will be missing their All-Star goaltender for at least the next two games.

An undisclosed injury will keep Tristan Jarry sidelined Thursday at the rival Washington Capitals and a home matchup with the San Jose Sharks on Saturday as the Penguins enter a nine-day respite in the schedule that includes their bye week and the ensuing All-Star Game event Feb. 3-4.

Jarry suffered the injury Tuesday and was scratched for their 7-6 overtime home win against the Florida Panthers.

After being proclaimed the starter after Tuesday’s morning skate by coach Mike Sullivan, Jarry did not participate in warmups.

Sullivan indicated he didn’t know when or how Jarry became injured as the coach updated the goaltender’s status after a practice session Wednesday in Cranberry.

“(Jarry) is not going to play until after the break,” Sullivan said. “We’ve got two games left. He’s dealing with an ‘upper-body’ injury. We think that will be productive time to be at his best.”

While Jarry did not participate in Wednesday’s practice, he was present in dress clothing, suggesting he would be traveling with the team for Thursday’s game in Washington.

After Saturday’s contest, the Penguins will not play again until they host the Colorado Avalanche on Feb. 7.

Jarry’s January has been rough as he has missed eight of the past 10 games. He previously was sidelined for seven contests between Jan. 5-18 because of a suspected right leg injury he suffered during a 2-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Jan. 2 at Fenway Park during the Winter Classic.

Through 27 games this season, Jarry, a two-time All-Star, has a 16-5-5 record, a 2.65 goals-against average, a .921 save percentage and one shutout.

In the meantime, the Penguins presumably again will turn to backup goaltender Casey DeSmith in Jarry’s absence.

On Tuesday, DeSmith made 33 saves on 39 shots in what was hardly a stout performance. Jarry’s predicament apparently occurred so late in the day, DeSmith did not learn he would be starting until shortly before the game.

“(Goaltending coach Andy Chiodo) just came in and told me I was going in while I was warming up in the gym, five minutes before I had to start getting dressed,” DeSmith said after Tuesday’s game. “It was pretty last minute, but those things happen.”

In 20 games this season, DeSmith has a 7-9-3 record, a 3.34 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage.

His teammates professed complete faith in DeSmith regardless of the circumstances.

“He’s such a good goalie,” defenseman Marcus Pettersson said. “The speed that he plays with, he’s so agile, back and forth. Full confidence in him, for sure.”

With Jarry sidelined, the team recalled reserve goaltender Dustin Tokarski from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League under emergency conditions Wednesday morning.

Previously summoned from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Jan. 3, Tokarski has appeared in two NHL games this season and has a 1-1-0 record, a 2.67 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage.

With Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Tokarski has played in 20 games and has a 9-6-4 record, a 2.27 goals-against average, a .923 save percentage and one shutout.

“He’s been unbelievable for us this year (with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton),” said Penguins forward Drew O’Connor, who has spent much of the season with the AHL club. “He just battles every game. He might not look like the most traditional goalie I think. He does something things a bit differently. But he gets the job done. He’s been great for us.”