Casey DeSmith aims to keep sharp for Penguins despite limited workload

Casey DeSmith is proud that he’s established himself as a dependable No. 2 goalie for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“It’s something I definitely do take pride in,” DeSmith said after practice Friday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. “Not because I want to consider myself a ‘backup specialist’ — because I don’t.”

With two-time Stanley Cup-winner Matt Murray as a teammate, though, that’s certainly DeSmith’s role for the Penguins for the time being. It’s just that over the past six weeks, it’s been a role that’s defined itself much differently.

With Murray healthy over a lengthy stretch and the Penguins in a desperate push to make the playoffs, coach Mike Sullivan rode Murray to start 19 of the past 20 games until the Penguins clinched a playoff berth with a win Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings.

Counting one game in which he played 37 minutes as a replacement, DeSmith has appeared in just two games since Feb. 21.

“I think it’s probably a lot harder than people think to go a long time and maintain confidence and not get overly frustrated or even mentally fatigued, all that stuff,” DeSmith said. “It’s tough sometimes, but at the same time (teammates) are battling day in and day out in games, so it’s not as hard as what they are doing today.

“It’s kind of a special position because you are taking weeks at a time off and you have got stay confident.”

DeSmith has reason to remain confident. His only start over the past six weeks was a shutout (March 14 at Buffalo).

Sullivan did not give an indication who would start Saturday’s regular-season finale against the New York Rangers.

Keep up with the Pittsburgh Penguins all season long.