When you’ve outplayed your opponent more than any other team in round one and find yourself in a winner take all Game 7 it isn’t ideal. Anything can happen in Game 7’s. That’s both the problem and the beauty of it. The Pittsburgh Penguins still have the opportunity to win and move on to face the Caroliina Hurricanes in round two.
This game is going to be different than the other six. Louis Domingue will likely not be making an appearance. Tristan Jarry who has been out of action with a foot fracture since April 14th is making his return to the lineup.
Tristan Jarry first goalie out at the optional morning skate. Louis Domingue doing some extra on the ice. @penguins
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) May 15, 2022
It is a necessary development for the team. Louis Domingue has been the worst goalie in the playoffs
Lowest Playoff Goals Saved Above Expected - March 15 pic.twitter.com/58Rp94c8h6
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) May 15, 2022
Tristan Jarry had a tumultuous offseason with speculation circling around him about his future as the Penguins #1 netminder. It was valid to question if he should be given another chance given the Penguins fleeting years being competitive and his atrocious round one performance. His response was terrific. He was a really good goalie in the regular season. He finished the year with a .919 save percentage and was ready to put last year’s failure behind him. Then the broken foot.
Tristan Jarry is being put in an unfair spot. While I was very critical of him last year. I don’t think there are many scenarios where you could fault him regardless of outcome tonight. He’s being put in the ultimate pressure cooker after not playing for a month and it is 100% the right call. If things go south for Jarry blame Louis Domingue. I don’t have much time for Domingue apologists. He is a professional goalie letting in goals 16 year-olds around the country save. It is his fault the team feels the need to make a move like this. The series should be over. The skaters have done their job and then some. What else can you ask for as a professional goalie. The Penguins are the best offensive AND defensive team in the playoffs in round one.
Playoff 5v5 xGoals For vs. xGoals Against
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) May 15, 2022
just fade me pic.twitter.com/UZ10jgZuz7
The other elephant in the room is the status of Sidney Crosby’s health heading into Game 7. He was not present at the morning skate. Then again, there were a lot of absences at the morning skate because it was optional.
Participants for the Penguins' optional morning skate:
— Danny Shirey (@DannyShireyPGH) May 15, 2022
Carter, McGinn, Heinen, O'Connor, Zohorna, Matheson, Pettersson, Ruhwedel, Friedman, Beaulieu, Jarry, Domingue, D'Orio
He was active with his teammates
Sidney Crosby did his game day routine this morning playing soccer with couple of teammates. @penguins
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) May 15, 2022
That is about as much information as you’re going to get about the Crosby situation. Mike Sullivan’s update on injured players was as following:
Injury updates from Mike Sullivan:
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) May 15, 2022
-Brian Dumoulin's status has not changed.
- Brian Boyle is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
- Everyone else - Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell and Tristan Jarry - continues to progress, and they're all game-time decisions.
Both Crosby and Rakell skated yesterday in Pittsburgh. They are both recovering from concussions. They are probably true game-time decisions. we aren’t going to know until around 6:40 tonight what the actual lineup is going to look like. The Penguins will be in way better shape if one or both can play, obvious statement is obvious. Getting Crosby back is huge. Don’t sell a Rakell return short, though. We saw how good Malkin was with some legit talent on his line. Rakell would provide that for Geno if Guentzel and Rust return to Crosby’s line.
Brian Boyle is out week to week. He performed above expectations this year. He also started to look slow. I think Drew O’Connor is an upgrade here.
I think the Penguins have played great in this series. I think they are going to be well prepared for the task at hand no matter what lineup they have to work with. I like their chances. That said, Igor Shesterkin still has the ability to find his god mode and make it a moot point. It should make for a fascinating Game 7. Enjoy
Thanks for reading!