Jarry Returns, Will Start Against NY Islanders

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry will return from injury and start Monday night in an important Metropolitan Division game against the New York Islanders, coach Mike Sullivan said after the morning skate at PPG Paints Arena.

Jarry has missed the past nine games. Sullivan has been saying for a week that his No. 1 goaltender is on the verge of returning and that the team is encouraged by his progress.

“Tristan, when he’s been in the net this year, he’s been really solid for us,” Sullivan said. “We’re anxious to get him back in the net. He’s feeling good. He’s feeling strong.”

Jarry is 16-5-5 this season with a .921 save percentage and a 2.65 goals-against average. Casey DeSmith has started eight of the nine games Jarry missed, with Dustin Tokarksi starting one. The Penguins are 4-4-1 in those nine games, most recently a discouraging loss at home Saturday against New Jersey.

It doesn’t look promising for any of the injured skaters to return.

Forward Ryan Poehling (out three games), defenseman Jan Rutta (out 13 games), defenseman Mark Friedman (out three games) all took part in the morning skate, but none looked to be full participants, and Friedman wore a non-contact jersey.

With the team having a day off Sunday, there was full participation at the morning skate.

The lines and pairings were unchanged:

Jake Guentzel-Sidney Crosby-Rickard Rakell

Jason Zucker-Evgeni Malkin-Bryan Rust

Brock McGinn-Jeff Carter-Kasperi Kapanen

Drew O’Connor-Teddy Blueger-Josh Archibald

Brian Dumoulin-Kris Letang

Marcus Pettersson-Jeff Petry

P.O Joseph-Chad Ruhwedel