The Penguins managed to defeat the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 in overtime last night to give them their third straight win. The win put the Penguins only seven points back of the Flyers and Lightning for either third in the Metropolitan Division or the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Penguins will still have to fight and claw their way into a potential playoff spot, but one man to thank for the fact that they still have some chance is goalie Tristan Jarry’s spectacular play. Jarry made several key saves, including one key save with about a minute and a half left in the second period, where he made a great pad stop on Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers to keep the game 3-2.
Jarry has had a solid season so far, with a 17-17-4 record with a 2.57 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage. His win-loss record may be the worst of his career so far as a starter, but his numbers have been solid. His goals-against average and save percentage has been better compared to last season’s numbers, as well as his six shutouts which lead the NHL, and is the most he has gotten in a season in his career.
One thing Jarry has started to showcase lately is his inconsistencies. Jarry has overall been very consistent this season but lately has started to struggle a little bit. In his last five games, Jarry has two games with a save percentage under .800 while having three games with a save percentage over .910. However, those inconsistencies have not in a problem throughout the season as it has been in past seasons.
This season, Jarry has been one of the Penguin’s best players in every game he plays. Jarry has managed to make big saves at the right moments and have become a goalie the Penguins can rely on to steal games, which he has had to do in several games this season. As previously mentioned, he has been very consistent. He has stayed steadier in his net compared to prior years and seemed to have really focused on being better on his glove side. He also has seemed to have gotten even better with his puck movement, which was evident on November 30, 2023, when he scored a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Jarry was signed to a five-year, $5.375 million dollar contract on July 1, 2023. This deal was heavily scrutinized by Penguins fans at the time, but Jarry’s play this season has shown that he has earned that contract and that it was the right decision by GM Kyle Dubas.
With the Penguins out of the playoffs as of right now and the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline coming up next Friday, Jarry has started to appear a little in rumors. Teams like the Los Angeles Kings, Ottawa Senators, and Calgary Flames could be teams that could use Jarry’s services if the right price comes along. However, odds are the Penguins will keep Jarry, but a trade could not be ruled out.
Nonetheless, if the Penguins want a shot at the playoffs, they would be better to keep Tristan Jarry. He is the reason why the Penguins are not even further away from a playoff spot, and he could be the reason why the Penguins may make the playoffs when all is said and done.
