PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Under different circumstances this rematch could be a lot different, but Pens head coach Mike Sullivan saying the first-time seeing Brad Marchand and the Bruins since the incident with Tristan Jarry isn’t a big deal.
“I actually forgot all about it,” Sullivan said Friday. “For me, it’s a non-issue. At this time of year, both teams have a certain focus of playing the game a certain way so that they can accomplish ultimately what they are trying to accomplish whether it be solidifying a playoff spot or putting yourselves in the best possible position to have success when you do make the playoffs.”
“I don’t imagine that being an issue.”
Hard to think that would be the case in the immediate aftermath as Marchand sucker-punched Jarry and then jabbed him in the neck with his stick. It happened after the final horn, so there wasn’t time for any payback.
Other than the playoff situations for both teams, Jarry won’t play in the game Saturday at 12:30p due to a lower-body injury. So not having him out there could defuse it from the beginning.
“Not really something I’m going to be thinking about or worrying about,” said Pens back-up goalie and likely starter Saturday Casey DeSmith. “I guess I have to watch what I have to say around 63.”
“No, I’m not going to be thinking about that or worrying about that. I think both teams are going to want to go play some hockey.”
“You don’t think about it too much,” said Pens forward Danton Heinen, a former teammate of Marchand. “Obviously, things happen out there. We are going to go out there and play hard and take care of business any way we can.”
Boston plays an aggressive game in front of the net, but the 6’, 181-pound DeSmith said he’s ready for it.
“That playoff atmosphere drives the adrenaline a little bit,” DeSmith said. “Teams that get to the front of the net, it’s a little more engaging for a goalie to having to be battling through screens and net traffic all the time. For me, I’ve always taken pride in kind of seeing the puck through traffic and just being able to battle my way for sight lines.”
He’ll have to battle for sure and given what we’ve seen from the lack of penalties in recent post-seasons, a good test for DeSmith. He might be the Pens starter when the playoffs begin.