The Penguins are scheduled to start goaltender Tristan Jarry for Thursday’s home game against the Ottawa Senators at PPG Paints Arena.
In 30 games this season, Jarry has a 19-7-3 record, a 2.08 goals against average, a .928 save percentage and three shutouts.
It remains to be seen who his backup will be, however.
Reserve goaltender Louis Domingue was slated to serve as the backup, according to Mike Sullivan. But Domingue was hobbled during an optional morning skate after being struck in his right foot by a puck. Sullivan indicated Domingue was being evaluated and a decision on his status for the game would be made pending the evaluation.
Should Domingue not be available, usual backup Casey DeSmith, who was recently released from the NHL’s protocols for covid-19, would presumably dress.
Notes:
• Aside from Jarry, Sullivan labeled his entire lineup as a “game-time” decision. That includes forwards Zach Aston-Reese and Danton Heinen, each also recently released from covid-19 protocols.
• In addition to DeSmith and Domingue, those who participated in the optional morning skated included forwards Brian Boyle, Jeff Carter, Evgeni Malkin, Dominik Simon, Radim Zohorna, Aston-Reese and Heinen; and defensemen Mark Friedman, Marcus Pettersson and Chad Ruhwedel.
• Former Penguins goaltender Matt Murray participated in the Senators’ morning skate. Having missed his team’s game on Tuesday due to an illness not related to covid-19, Murray’s status for Thursday’s game is uncertain.
On Wednesday, Senators coach D.J. Smith said Murray would not start but could serve as the backup.
• The Senators are expected to start goaltender Anton Forsberg. In 14 games this season, Forsberg has a 6-6-1 record, a 3.07 goals against average, a .910 save percentage and one shutout.
