3 takeaways: Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry has stickhandling ups and downs

Three takeaways from the Penguins’ 6-4 win at Minnesota on Thursday:

Jarry’s ups and downs

Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry recorded an assist on Sidney Crosby’s second goal of the contest, which came on the power play, but he also had a hand in the Wild’s first goal thanks to a turnover.

Jarry cleared a puck from behind his own net only to have it stolen by Wild forward Marcus Foligno at the right point. Foligno dealt the puck to Wild forward Brandon Duhaime, who converted Jarry’s charity into a goal thanks to a wrister from the right circle.

“It was a tough circumstance,” coach Mike Sullivan told reporters in Minnesota. “I think he would have liked that goal he (turned over) back. We work on those things a lot, just that communication with our defensemen and the goalie and that exchange and how important that is. That is one of Tristan’s strengths of his game. He’s normally very good in that regard. He responded after that and he settled into his game.”

Power back on

Two of the Penguins’ goals on Thursday came on the power play.

Overall, the Penguins were 2 for 6 on the power play (33.3%) Thursday, though they allowed one short-handed score. Entering the contest, the Penguins were 25th in the 32-team NHL with a conversion rate of 18.2%.

“We’re just trying to get (the players on the power-play units) to simplify the game a little bit,” Sullivan said. “Take some of the thinking out of it, not look for a better play. … Let’s shoot the puck and let’s go to the net, create an opportunity off the rebound. That’s when our power play is at its best.

“We’ve got, in my opinion, some of the best players in the game in and around the blue paint. There’s nobody better than (Crosby), for example. (Jake Guentzel) excels in that area. We’ve got to get the puck there more. We’ve got to get people there more. It just starts with simplifying the game a little bit.”

Joseph returns

Defenseman P.O Joseph returned to the Penguins’ lineup after missing three games due to an undisclosed injury.

Logging 16:04 of ice time on 21 shifts, Joseph was credited with one shot attempt.

According to Natural Stat Trick, Joseph was in the red in terms of puck possession. He was on the ice for 12 shot attempts for and 15 against in terms of five-on-five play.