Penguins/NHL
The Penguins continue to operate their goaltending situation on kind of a week-to-week and even game-by-game basis. Despite the organization believing Joel Blomqvist is too good for the AHL, had the Penguins got blown out Friday night, there was a chance Joel Blomqvist goes down to Wilkes Barre with Tristan Jarry coming up just from the standpoint of logistics.
Instead Blomqvist shined brightly in the 4-2 win and gets a consecutive start tonight against the Dallas Stars, a top-flight Stanley Cup Contender. One thing with Blomqvist is the way things have broken is the team keeps throwing him out there against higher end teams. It’s been a great evaluation tool. Leaky goal a game aside, the eye test thus far continues to match the #’s where he’s the far superior goaltender against chances inside 35 ft; Blomqvist .886 HDSV%, Nedeljkovic .754 HDSV%; Jarry .800 HDSV%.
Will we see Tristan Jarry in net this week where the Penguins have four games in six days?
The Penguins continue to take a tough stance on Jarry who will be in the press box To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Wednesday’s starter against the Detroit Red Wings is said to be penciled in for now as being Alex Nedeljkovic’s net but subject to change depending on Blomqvist’s performance tonight against the Stars. If Jarry gets consideration to start at all this week, the buzz is on To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
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— Penguins gave consideration to calling up one of Sam Poulin and Emil Bemstrom due to the Cody Glass and Kevin Hayes injuries. Poulin got the nod yesterday due to the team wanting to get him practice reps with the big club even if he doesn’t dress during the callup.
— Matt Nieto scored Saturday night in his first AHL game and has really defied odds in the organization in his return from multiple knee surgeries. Many never thought he’d be in contention to play this season, let alone this early. Team wants to get him a couple more games and things continue to track where he’s going to get a shot with the big club. Internally the team feels they owe it to him.
— Drew O’Connor back on the top line with Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell is in quite the rut. No points in his last 10 games and a minus-12 rating during that span.
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