Jarry Solid Again, Unlikely Goal-Scorers Fuel Penguins

This is, without question, the absolute worst thing that could happen to the Pittsburgh Penguins at this point in their season.

Unless, of course, it is the very best.

It all depends on one’s perspective on Tristan Jarry’s recent resurgence, which continued with a 33-save performance in the Penguins’ 5-3 victory against St. Louis at PPG Paints Arena Thursday night.

The win was Jarry’s third in a row since being recalled from the Penguins’ American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes-Barre. He has turned aside 94 of 100 shots in those three starts — and usually looked very good doing it.

“The last three games are three of the best games (Jarry) has played for us all year,” coach Mike Sullivan said, adding that, “We’re real hopeful that he’s finding his game.”

So is Jarry’s generally strong play a negative, because every point the Penguins gain in the standings could put them in a less-attractive slot when it’s time for the NHL draft lottery, or is it a plus, because it suggests Jarry might be getting his career back on track?

If it proves to be the latter — and it is far too early to make such a determination — Jarry should be well-positioned to reclaim his old job as the Penguins’ go-to goalie at training camp this fall, or at least to make him more attractive to other clubs looking to upgrade their goaltending this summer.

The victory was the Penguins’ third in a row and raised their record to 27-31-10.

Jarry’s performance, especially in the early stages of the game, obviously was critical to the outcome, but the Penguins wouldn’t have won if they hadn’t gotten goals from three guys who, entering the game, had combined to score twice in a total of 132 man-games this season.

The improbable goal-scorers: Ryan Graves, Conor Timmins and Connor Dewar.

The Penguins entered the third period with a 3-1 lead, but were shorthanded when it began because Kris Letang was penalized for cross-checking with 7.8 seconds to go before the second intermission.

The Blues, who had gotten their first goal on a power play, took advantage of having the extra man when Dylan Holloway drove a slap shot past Jarry from just above the right dot at 1:26.

Bryan Rust put the Penguins back up by two at 7:15, when he deflected in a Rickard Rakell shot for his 22nd. (The goal initially was credited to Rakell, but was switched to Rust well after the game ended.) Sidney Crosby received the second assist.

That goal prompted Blues coach Jim Montgomery to replace goalie Jordan Binnington with Joel Hofer, presumably to try to change the momentum of the game.

If so, it paid off almost immediately, as Alexey Toropchenko made it 4-3 at 8:56. His goal was the first Jarry allowed during a five-on-five situation in his past three starts.

Montgomery replaced Hofer with an extra attacker with 2:28 left in regulation, but the Blues were unable to manufacture

a tying goal and Rakell hit the empty net with 6.7 seconds remaining to push his total for the season to 30.

Crosby and Bryan Rust assisted on the empty-netter.

As has happened so often in Penguins games this season, there was a goal scored on the first shot.

This time, however, it was the Penguins who scored it, as Ryan Graves — yes, that Ryan Graves — beat Binnington with a harmless-looking wrist shot from the left point at 2:17 of the opening period.

Blake Lizotte got the only assist on that goal, Graves’ first in 74 games, ending a drought that stretched back to Jan. 20, 2024.

Graves got his goal on the Penguins’ only shot in the first 12 1/2 minutes of the game, and St. Louis finished the first 20 minutes with a 16-5 edge in shots.

Jarry made several excellent stops, none better than when he stopped Radek Faksa alone in front of the net after a grievous giveaway by Graves.

Graves’ partner on the No. 3 defense pairing, Conor Timmins, made it 2-0 at 2:20 of the second period, throwing a shot past Binnington from below the right dot for his third of the season and first in three games with the Penguins. (He scored No. 2 against the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena March 2 while playing for Toronto.)

Assists went to Danton Heinen and Philip Tomasino.

Timmins picked up the first penalty of the game when he was sent off for high-sticking at 11:07, and the Blues needed just 28 seconds to capitalize on the man-advantage.

Zack Bolduc got the goal, which came on the 24th St. Louis shot, by putting a shot past Jarry from the left hash mark at 11:35.

The Penguins didn’t wilt after St. Louis scored — that had been a frequent problem earlier in the season — and Connor Dewar, who was acquired from the Maple Leafs with Timmins, restored their two-goal lead at 17:42, steering a Lizotte pass behind Binnington for his first of the season.

Erik Karlsson got the second assist.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are scheduled to practice Friday at noon at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.