Tristan Jarry continues to put up top tier numbers this season, and has been a big reason why the Penguins aren’t in a massive hole in the standings, despite not having their coach and several top players due to COVID-19 issues and injuries.
But one area where Jarry has struggled is in shootouts. And that continued Tuesday night.
Jarry was beaten two of three times in the shootout, as the Penguins lost in Chicago, 3-2.
It prolonged a pattern of poor performance in those situations.
“You’re going against the best players in the world,” Jarry said Wednesday. “It’s something where it’s you and the player, and the player has the advantage. They’re able to slow down and speed up, and you’re basically just sitting there, waiting.
“It’s something that I have to improve on. It’s something that I’ve been working on. It’s tough. I have to be more assertive and be sure that I’m showing the best version of myself in there. I’ll be the first one to be the happiest when it does happen. It’s been tough.
Jarry has, since his arrival in Pittsburgh, been a soft-spoken, mostly friendly presence during media settings. But it appeared that the line of questioning struck a bit of a nerve with him.
“Tristan understands that’s an area he can continue to improve on,” said assistant coach Todd Reirden, who continues to fill in for Mike Sullivan as he deals with COVID-19. “Us, as a staff, are doing everything we can to provide him with the help we can to help him improve on.”
Jarry has been beaten seven times in ten shootout attempts.
“It’s all reading and reacting,” he said. “(Shooters) are dooing it just as much as you are. If you move left, they’re going to try to go right. There’s nothing you can really do. It’s tough.
Jarry has been good handling breakaways, stopping an elite finisher in Patrick Kane twice in the win over Chicago. So it's perplexing why, in that situation he’s so strong, but in shootouts, he can’t come up with the same stops.
And then there is the concern that, given his past issues in net, the slightest flaw could snowball into his regular play. He doesn't see it that way.
“It’s a separate issue,” he said. “It’s something where I just want to be better every game. Every game, I’ve been giving the team a chance and I think that’s ultimately what my goal is."
COVID-19 Update
Two players who have recently missed time with COVID-19 practiced Wednesday.
Defensemen Chad Ruhwedel and Marcus Pettersson are both clear of the mandated ten-day quarantine following a positive test and confirmation.
While they were able to participate fully Wednesday, both will have to be cleared to play Thursday night when the Penguins host Florida.
Reirden classified both players, who described their symptoms as mild, as game-time decisions.
He also provided an update on the other missing Penguins.
"To the best of my knowledge, everyone continues to improve and get better,” Reirden said of Sullivan, Sidney Crosby and Brian Dumoulin. “They're headed in the right direction."