Penguins Injuries: Sullivan Says Tristan Jarry Out DTD, Tanev Not Ready

The Pittsburgh Penguins will not get Brandon Tanev back before their conclusion to the 2020-2021 NHL season on Saturday, but the Penguins may have received worse news regarding goalie Tristan Jarry.

According to head coach Mike Sullivan, Jarry is out day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Jarry finished the game on Thursday night and earned his 25th win this season. He stopped 19 of 23 shots in a wild 8-4 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Jarry is 25-9-3 with a 2.75 GAA and a .909 save percentage.

Pittsburgh Penguins backup goalie Casey DeSmith is also out day-to-day, so third goalie Maxime Lagace figures to get the call against Buffalo.

Lagace, 28, last played an NHL game in 2018-19 for the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas also pressed him into duty for 16 games in the 2017-18 season. The Penguins third-stringer has spent most of the season on the Penguins taxi squad. He played nine games for the WBS Penguins of the AHL with a 2.30 goals-against-average and a .907 save percentage.

However, Sullivan does not appear to be worried about any long-term injuries to either goalie.

“We will have them for the playoffs,” he said.

The Penguins currently lead the Washington Capitals by two points in the East Division, but Washington has two games in hand. While the Penguins finish their season on Saturday, Washington has two games this weekend against the Philadelphia Flyers and one more game against the Boston Bruins.

If the Penguins win on Saturday, they will clinch at least second place and home-ice advantage in Round One. The Penguins announced Friday morning that Penguins playoff tickets would go on sale next Wednesday.  

Tanev again skated as a full participant in the Penguins practice on Friday, but Sullivan did not say he has yet received clearance.

The NHL has not yet announced the start date for the 2020-21 playoffs. The Vancouver Canucks COVID outbreak forced the suspension and delay of their season. Vancouver’s final regular-season game is on May 19.