PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – A pair of 6-2 home wins, the unbeaten Pens play a first road game Monday night in Montreal. They are changing who is in net.
Back-up goalie Casey DeSmith will get his first start after Tristan Jarry played the first couple of games.
"We're excited to watch him play tonight,” Sullivan said. “He's had a real good camp. We think we've got two really solid goaltenders. We're going to try to keep them both involved, because we think it's beneficial for both of them when we can share the workload, so to speak."
The 31-year-old signed a two-year, $3.6 million deal to remain with the Pens this offseason. DeSmith started 24 games last season with 11 wins, a 2.79 goals against average and .914 save percentage. In his career, 82 starts with a 2.67 goals against average and .915 save percentage.
Petry Back
Pens defenseman Jeff Petry said it’s a nervous excitement to return to Montreal, where he played the last eight NHL seasons. He said he went to dinner with a few of his former teammates Sunday night.
“When I was looking at the schedule, obviously coming back here early in the year,” Petry said Monday. “It’s nice to play that early and get the emotions out.”
70 of his 87 career NHL goals happened in a Canadiens jersey, 178 of his 236 assists. He also was part of their Eastern Conference winning team in 2020-21 which started beating rival Toronto than Winnipeg and Vegas before losing to the Lightning in the Stanley Cup Finals.
“From the day I got here, I think my time here was really beneficial for me,” Petry said. “When you look at the pattern of my career, I really came into my own and developed here. Looking back at some of the teams we had, it was a special time here.”
“We learned that he is an elite player,” Sullivan said of having Petry for a couple of games. “He is everything we hoped we were getting. He’s been everything that we expected. He helps us on both sides of the puck. He’s big and strong in our net front, he helps in our penalty kill. We play him in our top four and is a big part of all the situations. He’s a real solid defenseman on both sides of the puck.”
Matheson hurt
The big return piece for Petry was Mike Matheson to Montreal. The 28-year-old defenseman is currently injured and won’t play tonight but Sullivan praised his contributions in Pittsburgh (11 goals and 20 assists in 74 games last season).
“Mike was an invaluable part of our team,” Sullivan said. “He’s one of the greatest athletes I’ve coached. His skating ability, his strength, ability to shot the puck. He can really drive offense and in a lot of ways he’s a one-man breakout when he goes back for pucks.”
“He’s a terrific person, really cares about his team and his teammates. He really developed into one of the more valuable players on defense that we had. I’m sure when he’s healthy he’ll be able to bring those same attributes to Montreal.”
PO Homecoming
Defenseman PO Joseph won a training camp battle to make the team and will play in his third straight game. But it won’t be a normal game, Joseph playing for the first time in his hometown.
“I wouldn’t call that pressure, it’s more excitement,” Joseph said. “I will be excited to see the family and friends in the stands.”
He said he expects around 20 or so of them in the building tonight.
“I tried to have a moment before going on the ice this morning,” Joseph said Monday. “It’s a different perspective than being in the stands, but it’s another game. It’s another rink and I’m just excited to play.”
“Hockey is important in Montreal,” Sullivan said. “I think as someone like PO who’s grown up here and now to play here. It’s always a thrill to play in your hometown. I can imagine there will be a lot of emotions going through PO’s body tonight.”