On a memorable night when Pittsburgh Penguins stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin achieved notable milestones, goalie Tristan Jarry faced a confidence-crushing performance. Unfortunately for him, he is the only one who will want to forget it.
Just 43 seconds into the 6-5 overtime victory against the Buffalo Sabres, Jarry’s giveaway behind the net was quickly capitalized on by Buffalo center Tage Thompson. Fans, already eager for 22-year-old Joel Blomqvist to take the crease, let out audible groans.
Three minutes into the game, defenseman Erik Karlsson failed to adequately defend a puck, leaving Jordan Greenway a clear path to Jarry, who retreated into the net rather than confronting the incoming threat. Jarry’s defense continued to falter, allowing a second goal when he barely deflected Greenway’s shot. If that had been the only goal, the criticism would have rested on Karlsson’s poor defense. But as the goals piled up, calls for Jarry’s replacement intensified.
“It was just a tough start for a whole team. Quite honestly, it wasn’t even close to our best game out there,” said coach Mike Sullivan. “Given the way the game started, we felt it was right to make the switch. Tristan was a bit of a victim of that start, but he was also complicit.”
Fans began to mock Jarry with cheers for basic saves and routine plays, clearly eager for him to be replaced. After yet another misplay led to a two-on-one for Buffalo, JJ Peterka scored, making it three goals in just over 11 minutes—prompting Blomqvist’s entrance.
The Penguins now face a real dilemma, as goalie Alex Nedeljkovic is preparing to return from injury. With three goalies available and Jarry struggling, they find themselves in a precarious situation. His trade value has diminished amid a series of benchings after signing a five-year, $26.88 million contract in July 2023.
In the past year, Jarry has slipped from being a potential candidate for the 2026 Canadian Olympic team into a downward spiral that risks relegating him to the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The Penguins must now consider whether they can afford to send Blomqvist—one of their top two goalies—down to the minors when Nedeljkovic returns.
Just last Sunday, Sullivan was defensive when asked about starting Blomqvist against the Toronto Maple Leafs, while Jarry earned a hard-fought win on Monday. However, 48 hours later, Jarry’s performance unraveled spectacularly.
Although Jarry was unavailable for comment after Monday’s and Wednesday’s games, Blomqvist expressed his excitement about contributing on an unforgettable night, noting that hard work in practice prepared him for his opportunity.
Despite common practices with goalies having slow starts, Jarry’s situation is different. His struggles began last season when Sullivan favored Nedeljkovic during crucial games, culminating in strong performances that cast doubt on Jarry’s reliability.
Having faced a 6-0 loss in the season opener, Jarry’s issues seem to linger into the new season. Sullivan will likely downplay questions about Jarry’s performance, as the organization works on restoring his confidence, which has likely dipped into negative trade value territory.
The Penguins are focused on returning to the Stanley Cup Playoffs after a two-year absence, understanding that early-season games are critical, as past failures have taught them that every point counts. The closeness of the NHL standings means they cannot afford to write off games with the hope of recovery later.
