Penguins/NHL
The Pittsburgh Penguins have just 14 games left in the regular season. Is time running out for Tomas Vokoun to make it back and be the Penguins No. 2 option in the post-season? Things might be headed in that direction and another question emerging in Pens circles is whether the team even really wants him to come back to game action with Jeff Zatkoff’s emergence.
“In terms of Tomas, he’s working back to being able to play, how that is, when that is, not real clear at this point in time,” Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma said Tuesday night of there still not being a timetable for Vokoun.
The emergence of Zatkoff means there is no way the Penguins will consider putting him on waivers to make room for Vokoun during the regular season. If Vokoun gets activated which is not imminent, the team would carry three goaltenders on the 23-man roster. In the playoffs there is no roster limit.
Vokoun, 37, has not played in a game since June 7, 2013. Sources say the coaches feel he hasn’t looked sharp during practices.
For the Penguins to be comfortable with Vokoun being Fleury’s primary backup at the start of the playoffs, you’d be looking at Vokoun needing at least four to five starts to prove he’s capable which is looking highly unlikely at this point.
