Penguins’ Tristan Jarry insists he’s turned page after OT gaffe

If Tristan Jarry spent a lot of time dwelling on his double-overtime gaffe Monday, he certainly didn’t act as if he’d done too deep of an analysis of what he could have done differently.

“Umm, stop (the puck),” the Pittsburgh Penguins goalie said Tuesday when asked about Josh Bailey’s goal that gave the New York Islanders a 3-2 win and 3-2 series lead.

Clarified to Jarry that it was more his decision-making and execution of a failed clearing attempt that Bailey corralled to set up the goal, Jarry again indicated it wasn’t something he broke down all that much.

“Umm, I’m not sure,” he said. “Maybe just leave it.”

Jarry was referring to the puck he retrieved after it had been cleared into the right-wing corner of the Penguins zone. But he might as well have been speaking about the entire ordeal that has left fans — not entirely without merit — portraying Jarry as the goat of a game in which the Penguins dominated possession and zone time but still lost.

As far as Jarry’s role in losing Game 5 is concerned, the Penguins are just leaving it be heading into Wednesday’s Game 6 on the road. Faceoff is 6:30 p.m. in Uniondale, N.Y.

“Inside the dressing room, there isn’t a whole lot of talk about it,” defenseman Mike Matheson said of Jarry’s costly error. “Everybody knows that every single one of us makes a bunch of mistakes every single game, and that’s just the nature of the game. You hear people talking about, ‘It’s a game of mistakes.’ Well, it is, 100%.”

The Penguins probably can’t afford too many more mistakes of similar magnitude if they are going to win this East Division first-round series.

With backup Casey DeSmith still injured and staying at home for the team’s trip to Long Island, the Penguins have little choice but to stick with — and support — Jarry in hopes he can deliver for them.

“I believe in Tristan,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “We believe in Tristan.”

It was eight days before Jarry’s Game 5 costly miscue that similar questions were being asked about his ability to carry a team on a playoff run. In his second career postseason start and first as the team’s undisputed No. 1 goalie, Jarry allowed four goals on 41 shots in a 4-3 Islanders overtime victory.

Jarry stopped 37 of 38 shots two days later, looking like the bona fide former All-Star he is in evening the series. Games 4 and 5 this week were only the second time since the calendar flipped to February that Jarry lost consecutive starts.

“That’s a big thing in this league, just being able to bounce back,” Jarry said, “and just get better than you were the next day. (Penguins goalie coach) Mike Buckley has done a great job just being able to prepare me and get me better every day.”

The 2021 postseason, Jarry’s first as the #Penguins unquestioned starter, is the manifestation of all of that asset management and energy devoted to this endeavor.

This is Tristan Jarry’s moment. And it’s not going well. https://t.co/ErtikZrUSP

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) May 25, 2021

Among the 19 goalies who have started at least one game this postseason, Jarry ranks 17th in save percentage (.909) and 14th in goals-against average (2.71).

Basic goaltending statistics, though, are attributable in part to the performance of the team in front of the goalie. That was a theme pushed repeatedly by the Penguins in the 24 hours after Jarry’s latest loss.

To a man, each of Jarry’s four teammates who have spoken to the media since Game 5 expressed unwavering public support for him. Some have done so more personally to Jarry in private.

“If guys want to reach out, they are going to do that,” Jarry said. “Some guys like to stay quiet, and I (am OK with) however you want to be.

“I’m a pretty easygoing person, so I think it’s just going about my business and doing what I need to do to be better the next day.”

Keep up with the Pittsburgh Penguins all season long.