This season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have had two different starting netminders. Yesterday we discussed one of them whose status is up in the air. Today, we talk about one who finally found his potential.
I doubt that at the beginning of the season, many surrounding the Pittsburgh Penguins would have never even fathomed Tristan Jarry outperforming Matt Murray. Well, here we are, and that is precisely what has happened. The 25-year-old native of British Columbia has taken the reigns in between the pipes and doing something that he always had in him.
People forget, as did we, that the former Penguins GM, Ray Shero, traded up twice to select Jarry in the 2013 NHL draft, seeing his potential. Jarry has had growing pains over his time in the system, but this year, he took off. Although the more physically fit between him and Murray, playing behind double M and even playing in the AHL seemed more futuristic then what ended up happening.
This season Jarry played in 33 games with an overall record of 20-12-1. His big turning point happened in November when Matt Murray gave up six goals in the first two quarters against Edmonton. Jarry came in, turned the tide, and the Pens came back to win. That match turned the Penguins fortunes and his own around for well over the next month. Sometimes the hockey gods shine on you; sometimes they don’t.
Pittsburgh Penguins by the numbers: Tristan Jarry
As the season progressed, Murray and Jarry quietly, almost without being known, moved into a platoon style of play. Murray got the bigger games while Jarry got the more reasonable matchups. However, over time even Jarry took over the limelight, making him the clear number 1 before the season ended back in March.
As the playoffs inch closer, Murray will still probably get the first crack in between the pipes (experience over youth). If that doesn’t work, look for Tristan to take back over and stand in as the last line of defense. This should be Jarry’s team going into next year, but as you can tell, you simply cannot talk about one of them and not discuss the other.