PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It's been an assumption the lower body, like foot, injury would keep Tristan Jarry out of at least the start of the playoffs. Pens Head Coach Mike Sullivan saying Wednesday, maybe he could.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Sullivan said. "We still have five games left in the regular season. Tristan is going through a rehab process right now. His status is week-to-week. We're not sure what that picture will look like."
Jarry injured during the playoff clinching win against the Islanders last week, even though he finished the game. The 26-year-old is looking for redemption from the struggles of last postseason. He would go 2-4 against the Islanders with 21 goals allowed equating to a .888 save percentage and 3.18 goals against average.
While Sullivan mentioned Jarry was going through a rehab process, he has not been on the ice. Currently Casey DeSmith and Louis Domingue are the two goalies on the active roster.
"We believe in the people that we have," Sullivan said. "We have capable people in all positions, Casey being one of them. We have a lot of work ahead of us before we start the playoffs. That might be a better conversation for when that time comes."
Playoff opponents
As it stands right now, the Pens would play the Rangers in the first round, but is almost equally as possible to play Carolina or the Florida Panthers to begin the post-season. The Hurricanes and Rangers are tied for first and Washington is a point back of the Pens with a game in hand.
Is the team looking ahead at any of those matchups with a week and a half left in the regular season?
"I'm sure everyone is looking at it," said veteran forward Jeff Carter. "It's fairly tight right now. It doesn't really mean a lot because all we can worry about are these last five games. Trying to get on a roll and rack up some points and wherever it falls, it falls."
"Especially this year, it seems like every team is so good coming down the stretch," said defenseman Mike Matheson. "I think every team that is in the playoffs and even some not making the playoffs, are really good hockey teams. I think it's going to make for an exciting postseason."
Line Combinations
The lines played out this way before hosting Boston. It will be an optional gameday skate on Thursday.
Jake Guentzel-Sidney Crosby-Rickard Rakell
Jason Zucker-Jeff Carter-Bryan Rust
Danton Heinen-Teddy Blueger-Brock McGinn
Evan Rodrigues-Brian Boyle-Kasperi Kapanen
*Evgeni Malkin will serve the final game of his suspension Thursday
Brian Dumoulin-Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson-John Marino
Mike Matheson-Chad Ruhwedel
