‘Let it All Go’: This Tristan Jarry Seems Different; New Scenarios

Much like broccoli, humble pie can have a bitter taste but also be quite good for you.

The Pittsburgh Penguins served goalie Tristan Jarry a healthy dose of that humble pie in mid-January by waiving him and re-assigning him to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL. That figurative dish followed a few months of NHL opponents also humbling the Penguins’ No. 1 goaltender.

It was not long ago that Jarry was mentioned in the same breath as Jordan Binnington as a potential goalie for Team Canada. Jarry also made two All-Star Game appearances in three seasons.

He wasn’t without qualifications.

Deep into last season, Jarry and goaltending partner Alex Nedeljkovic were chasing the Jennings Trophy for the best save percentage in the league.

And then it unraveled quickly.

“(Going back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) was something that I think just being able to work on my game–obviously, it’s not something that you want to happen, and that’s on me. I wasn’t playing well enough for this team, and I wasn’t giving them a chance to win,” Jarry said on March 6 in Colorado, his first media availability since the recall. “And I think just going down there, it gave me that chance to work on things, gave me the chance to better my game and just be a better goalie.”

The first-shot goals, a myriad of soft goals, and some defiant views on his play defined the last 12 months of Jarry’s NHL career … until it again became an AHL career, and the organization was ready to move on.

Jarry was demoted, and the goalie of the future, Joel Blomqvist, was to begin his NHL career. Jarry was yesterday, and his time with the organization was probably done.

Probably.

But professional sports are unpredictable. Blomqvist wasn’t up to the task. Jarry was recalled.

And Jarry has been a different goalie. He was stellar against Minnesota in a 3-1 win and earned another start Tuesday. Coach Mike Sullivan properly credited him as the difference in the Penguins’ 3-2 overtime win over Vegas when Jarry stopped 36 of 38 shots.

There was a steady calm to Jarry Tuesday that spread to his team, even as Vegas shelled them for the entirety of the third period. The steady presence was something diametrically opposed to his previous couple of seasons.

“As I said after the Minnesota game, he’s got a long body of work here in Pittsburgh that suggests strongly that he’s a legitimate NHL goaltender. We’ve never waived from that. I’ve said that on so many different occasions, and I still believe that Jarry is a real good goalie when he’s playing up to his capabilities,” said Sullivan. “I mean, he’s made the All-Star team twice. I don’t think that’s a coincidence. You know, there’s substance there.

“He’s a quality goaltender. He’s a competitive guy. For whatever reason, it didn’t go the way that any one of us or himself had hoped in this early part of the season. But since he’s been back, he’s put two very strong starts. I think he’s just showing what he’s capable of, quite honestly.

Fans remain split on the goaltender. After saving the Penguins’ fate Tuesday with numerous high-danger saves, there was a smattering of “Jarry” chants.

Now, sitting and talking to reporters, there’s just something different about Jarry’s demeanor. Since his recall, there has been accountability and ownership of the situation. And most importantly, he’s stopping pucks.

“(The chants) were cool. I’ve been here for a long time. Any time you can have the support from the fans, and they’re behind you, it gives you a lot of confidence,” said Jarry in a soft tone. “When they’re standing behind me, it really helps.

“(Being waived) was a tough time for me. It was something that I had to work through. It was something that I had to look at myself in the mirror and say I need to have a better game.”

Of course, it’s just two games, and the situation is merely in its infancy, but there’s an unspoken feeling that things have been fixed. The broken toy got new batteries.  Sure, there is regret that Jarry didn’t play like this earlier. He has it, the team has it, but it’s also past tense. There’s nothing that can be done about it, and suddenly, the surprising revival, or potential revival, is beginning conversations not of how to dispose of Jarry’s contract, but if he can take back the No. 1 spot.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now has done the math of what a Jarry buyout would look like. A couple of months ago, that seemed like the only solution.

Now, teammates are stridently cheering on the comeback attempt.

“I love that sh*t,” Bryan Rust said with a big grin Sunday. “He’s been through so much.”

For the record, Rust knew what he was going to say before he said it and was having some fun with the situation and the media. Jarry won in Minnesota. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin scored goals on Marc-Andre Fleury, and the Penguins won. Rust was in a pretty good mood.

One of the knocks on Jarry that kept him from establishing himself sooner in the NHL was a thought that he didn’t work hard, especially in practice. He had to overcome that with Sullivan, and now, it seems he’s bought into the importance.

Jarry is playing with a different attitude.

“I think just letting it all go. I think that’s a big thing that I went down to Wilkes-Barre with a free mind to just play my game,” said Jarry. “Coming back here, it’s been something that I’ve been able to accomplish–working on my craft in practice, and when I get the opportunity to play making sure I’m prepared.”

It’s the type of story that’s easy to root for. A second chance, even an unexpected opportunity born more of a happenstance or another’s failure, is still a new opportunity, and it surely seems like Jarry is ready for this one. If he builds on his performance, he very well could be on the NHL roster next fall. Or, a goalie-starved team might look at Jarry, or even Joel Blomqvist, as buy-low opportunities worth investing in.

Or, it all regresses to the mean. There are three very different scenarios, but two of them didn’t seem possible just one week ago.

Regardless of the result, it sure looks like, sounds like, and feels like a different Tristan Jarry.