Tim Benz: Islanders goal-scorers were on point while Penguins' Tristan Jarry was off the mark

When New York Islanders coach Barry Trotz casually described the Pittsburgh Penguins goaltending as “inexperienced” in the week leading to the playoffs, it was an easy critique to dismiss.

While Trotz was accurate — given the combined one playoff appearance between Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith — the easy response was, “Does it matter?”

After all, Jarry survived a shaky start to the season to have a solid year. The Penguins have plenty of experience in all other areas. And if 25-year-old Ilya Sorokin had to start in the other net for an injured Semyon Varlamov, the point would be rendered moot because Trotz’s team would be just as inexperienced.

Well, through one game of their East Division playoff series, goaltending did matter. And whether inexperience was a factor or not, New York’s was better en route to a 4-3 overtime win in Game 1 of their East Division playoff series.

Jarry yielded regulation goals to Kyle Palmieri and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, both of whom beat him high to the glove side.

that was sick. pic.twitter.com/PrhWzts15K

— x - New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) May 16, 2021

PAGEAU, PAGEAU, PAGEAU, PAGEAU
PAGEAUUUUUUUU, PAGEAU!! pic.twitter.com/oYJfYqOypR

— x - New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) May 16, 2021

A third goal from Brock Nelson gave the Islanders a 3-2 third-period lead. It was a brilliant move to use Kris Letang as a screen and shoot it through the legs of the Penguins defenseman. But once the puck got on target, it squirmed under the armpit of Jarry and into the goal.

Beauvillier ➡️ Nelson

4:10 to go and Brock Nelson puts Isles ahead! #ItsOn pic.twitter.com/UUU7hRJlBx

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 16, 2021

Sorokin wasn’t able to make the lead stand up for New York as Penguins forward Kasperi Kapanen knotted the score once more at 3-3. However, in overtime, Palmieri scored again by going short side into a narrow window over Jarry’s left shoulder against the post.

OT WINNER
OT WINNER
OT WINNER
OT WINNER pic.twitter.com/HpBCCgbSci

— x - New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) May 16, 2021

All the Islanders’ goals were the kind where, if Penguins had scored them, we’d be praising the execution of the shots and not focusing on what the goalie failed to do in order to stop them.

Similar to how, if the Penguins had won, we’d be gushing about the tenaciousness of Fredrick Gaudreau on the first goal, Sidney Crosby’s deft deflection on the second goal and the snipe of Kapanen on the third.

HAPPY KAPPY = HAPPY PENGUINS FANS pic.twitter.com/8UUBcbolAm

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) May 16, 2021

That’s just how it works, though. Ask Jarry’s predecessors, Matt Murray and Marc-Andre Fleury. They can testify to that chapter and verse.

The stat sheet will say Jarry and Sorokin had similar nights. Sorokin stopped 39 of 42 shots. Jarry turned aside 37 of 41. However, no one in New York is going to be looking for what Sorokin could’ve done differently on any of those three Penguins goals, whereas a lot of the comments on social media and many postgame questions for coach Mike Sullivan and his players were about their level of confidence in Jarry moving forward.

“I thought Tristan made some big saves throughout the course of the game,” Sullivan said. “There were some good saves at both ends of the rink. I just think we have to be better as a group.”

Jarry did have some big stops. One on Anthony Beauvillier in overtime leaps to mind. Another came against Beauvillier in the first period at point-blank range off Jarry’s forearm.

But Sorokin’s moments were brighter. He kept the game close so it had a chance to get to overtime in the first place. The Penguins may have been up 4-1 before the end of the second if it weren’t for him.

Sorokin robbed Crosby after some nifty give-and-go action with defenseman Kris Letang. He also stole what could’ve been a wraparound goal from Teddy Blueger in the second period.

That said, Jarry’s teammates insist their confidence in him isn’t wavering.

“(Jarry) is a (heck) of a goaltender,” Gaudreau said. “We’ve always had great confidence in him. We know how good he is. Our level of confidence in him will never change. He’s awesome.”

Instead, the Pens were blaming an overall team failure in the third period. It was a frame that featured two goals for the Islanders as they outshot Sullivan’s group 13-6.

“In the third, we were a little bit on our heels,” defenseman Cody Ceci said. “They caught us in transition a couple of times just from pucks we couldn’t get in, and we got stuck on the ice. … They needed a goal in the third, and they came pretty hard. We knew they were gonna push, and that’s what they did. They pressured us hard and made it hard for us to make plays.”

One thing is certain when it comes to Jarry and that question of inexperience. He has two postseason starts under his belt. The first he allowed one goal in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Montreal Canadiens in the qualifying round last year. And, on Sunday, he got to overtime making 37 saves and still lost.

There’s no doubt Jarry grasps how thin the line is between giving a good performance and not being good enough. On Sunday, what was good wasn’t good enough.

Now he needs to “experience” the winning part. And he better do it Tuesday night in Game 2. Or the Penguins will be halfway toward a fourth straight playoff series loss.