In a stunning turn of events, Tristan Jarry found himself watching from the press box as the Pittsburgh Penguins fell 6-3 to the Winnipeg Jets. The decision to start the recently recalled Alex Nedeljkovic, fresh off an AHL conditioning stint, raised eyebrows among fans and analysts alike. Joel Blomqvist was dressed as Nedeljkovic’s backup, leaving Jarry out in the cold.
Jarry’s absence from the game stemmed from a lackluster performance against the Buffalo Sabres, where he was pulled after allowing three goals on just five shots. Despite the Penguins coming back to win 6-5 in overtime, Jarry’s struggles were evident. So far this season, Jarry’s stats are less than stellar, sitting at 1-1-0 with a .836 save percentage and an alarming 5.47 goals-against average. With a hefty contract and the pressure of being the fifth-highest paid player on the team, the spotlight is firmly on Jarry.
Nedeljkovic, on the other hand, showed up in a big way with 31 saves in Sunday’s contest. However, even his heroics were not enough to secure a much-needed win for the Penguins. Captain Sidney Crosby acknowledged the defensive lapses that plagued the team, pointing to the need to tighten up in their own end to be successful.
“I thought we did some good things,” Crosby mused. “Obviously we’re just giving too much up. I think we can’t give up what we’ve been giving up and expect to win consistently. Defensively we’ve got to find another level.”
Nedeljkovic echoed Crosby’s sentiments, recognizing the potent offensive threat posed by the Jets and their ability to capitalize on mistakes. “They’ve got some high-powered offensive guys that can make you pay for it, and they did just that,” the netminder admitted. “They got a couple bounces as well. All in all, we played fine, but obviously not good enough to win.”
As speculation swirls regarding when Jarry will be given another shot between the pipes, the Penguins are faced with a crucial decision. With his performance from last season in mind, where he went 19-25-5 with a .903 save percentage and a 2.91 GAA, Jarry’s track record is cause for concern.
Head coach Mike Sullivan remains optimistic about Jarry’s future, emphasizing the need for confidence and mental fortitude in the face of adversity. “It’s still so early in the season. There’s so much runway in front of us,” Sullivan remarked. ” … These players, they’re human beings like the rest of us. They go through stretches where maybe their confidence isn’t at the level it needs to be. We try to work with our guys in that regard, also. When players struggle at any position, my experience is you can be your own biggest obstacle. You gotta find a way to get out of your own way.”
The Penguins are now left to ponder their goaltending situation, with Jarry’s future hanging in the balance. As the team navigates a rocky start to the season, the pressure is on to find solutions and turn things around before it’s too late.