The Penguins are turning to Tristan Jarry to try to save their season.
Mike Sullivan said today that Jarry, who never has faced a shot in the postseason at this level, will be in goal for Game 4 of the Penguins' qualifying-round series against Montreal shortly after 4 p.m. today at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
Matt Murray, the Penguins' go-to goalie in the playoffs since their championship run in 2016, had started the previous three games.
Sullivan said he would "rather not discuss" the deliberations the coaching staff had while settling on its goalie for Game 4, adding that he speaks with all players affected by any personnel change.
The Canadiens, heavy underdogs entering the series, have a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five and can advance to Round 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs with a victory today.
If the Penguins win Game 4, the series finale will be played Saturday, at a time that has yet to be announced.
Jarry, in his first full season in the NHL, went 20-12-1, with a 2.43 goals-against average and .921 save percentage in 2019-20.
Sullivan suggested his strong showing this season can be traced, at least in part, to an upgrade in his practice habits over the past few seasons.
"Tristan deserves a lot of credit for how hard he's worked on his game," Sullivan said.
Murray has a 1-2 record, 2.50 goals-against average and .914 save percentage in this series.
Of the 33 goaltenders who have been used in this postseason, he ranks 17th in save percentage and is tied for 17th in goals-against average.
Although Jarry will be making his postseason debut, the Penguins' lineup has numerous players who have gone through lengthy playoff runs and have considerable experience in elimination games, a factor that could work in their favor today.
"We believe in the group we have," Sullivan said. "This group has accomplished an awful lot in their careers. They understand what's at stake. They know where we're at. Now, we just have to go out and play. ... We have to put our best game on the ice, and they know that."
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