Penguins Send Goalie Tristan Jarry to AHL

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Before the Pittsburgh Penguins began the formal part of their practice Friday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, there were three goalies on the ice going through drills and workouts.

As more players began to trickle onto the ice, one of the goaltenders, Tristan Jarry, left. It seemed likely that Jarry simply wasn’t ready for a full practice, as he’s been dealing with a leg injury that had him designated injured non-roster by the Penguins.

While the state of his recovery remains to be seen, Jarry won’t be seen with the Penguins again in the short term. Later Friday, he was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, the team’s American Hockey League affiliate.

Although there seemed little question that Casey DeSmith had earned the backup job behind Matt Murray, this move sealed it, at least for now and while DeSmith and Murray remain healthy.

Jarry, when or if healthy, would be expected to be the No. 1 goalie with Wilkes-Barre, which opens its season Saturday against Springfield.

Before the announcement regarding Jarry, Wilkes-Barre coach Clark Donatelli offered a hint of what was to come. According to beat writer Tom Venesky of the Times Leader, Donatelli hedged when asked about his starting goalie for Saturday, saying that decision was still being decided pending Jarry’s status.