Penguins reserve goaltender Louis Domingue vows to be ready when called upon, again

Louis Domingue made an immediate impression on Bryan Rust.

Even across the gulf of two time zones.

In his only appearance in net for the Penguins this season, Domingue was stout in leading the Penguins to a hard-fought 2-1 overtime road win against the San Jose Sharks on Jan. 15.

Domingue made 40 saves on 41 shots in the victory.

Rust appreciated the effort, even if he didn’t get to see it first-hand.

“Well, I had covid. I was still in Dallas,” quipped Rust, who was in an NHL-mandated quarantine after testing positive for the virus during a multi-city road trip. “So I was watching from my beautiful hotel room I was in for about nine days.

“I do recall he was awesome. He was calm, he was poised back there. … Just from watching, he was calm, cool and collected in there. Obviously, he’s a goalie who has been around for a while. He’s played a lot of games in the NHL. He’s a guy who can play very well for us if he’s given the opportunity.”

In addition to getting a win, the type of reaction Rust offered was also a pursuit for Domingue.

“This was one of my goals going into San Jose,” Domingue said. “It was my goal to show my teammates that I was for real. I think I accomplished that. It’s been a while. … You’ve got to start all over again and do it all over again.”

At the time, backup goaltender Casey DeSmith also was dealing with the after-effects of covid-19 and was slowly working his way back into playing shape. That seemed to create some potential opportunity for Domingue to start an additional game or two in January, but he suffered a right foot injury during an optional morning skate Jan. 20.

Domingue hobbled around — and even used a small scooter at times — with a walking boot on his right foot and did not play another game until March 12 when he directed the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to a 6-2 home win against the Laval Rocket.

“It was definitely bad timing,” Domingue said of his malady. “I was feeling comfortable, especially comfortable with my teammates, which is something that’s always hard to accomplish when you just come in the middle of the season. Going down (to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton), playing some games was awesome. It’s fun because the last few years, I haven’t really had a chance to really lead a team in net. It’s been great, for sure.”

The Penguins’ goaltending situation is far from great considering starter Tristan Jarry is sidelined indefinitely because of a suspected right foot injury. DeSmith is now the de facto starter with the playoffs scheduled to start in roughly two weeks, and Domingue has been installed as the backup after being recalled Friday.

He understands the gravity of the situation.

“Since I signed with the team, I felt like it was a great opportunity for me,” said Domingue, who signed a one-year, two-way deal for a league minimum of $750,000 in early September. “It didn’t matter where I fell in the depth chart. At the end of the day, when I come up here (to the NHL roster), my job is to be ready to get in net when I’m called upon. I’ve been working towards that down there and when I’m up here. If they do want me in net, I will be ready for my opportunity. It’s one of those things where you’ve been preparing for your whole life for this type of opportunity. My goal is to just help the team out as best as I can.”

With few options, the Penguins profess confidence in what Domingue can provide them should they have to turn to him.

“Louis is a very talented goalie,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “He has worked extremely hard since he’s been a Pittsburgh Penguin. He’s put a strong body of work together (with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton). He has NHL experience. He’s obviously played once for us and had a terrific game in San Jose. When (general manager Ron Hextall) went out and signed Louis … that third goalie is a really important aspect of just shoring up the depth of that position.

“Louis has done a really good job at just controlling what he can to be at his very best. He’s done a great job (with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton). He’s done a good job when he’s been up here in Pittsburgh. The one game he played, he played extremely well for us.”

Domingue has posted strong — albeit in limited action — numbers at the American Hockey League level. In 22 games, he has a 10-9-2 record, 2.41 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage.

After playing in only four combined games (one at the NHL level, three in the AHL) for the Calgary Flames organization last season, Domingue is just grateful to be playing, especially as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s top goaltender since recovering from his foot injury.

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“Just by playing a lot of games, it’s been easier for me to gain confidence, especially (with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) where I had a role, an important role with the team,” Domingue said. “Even if I had a bad game or a good game, I’d go in net the next night and get to do it again. Playing a lot of games in a short period of time, also, is helping out building the confidence.

“It’s been a pretty positive year so far, and I’m looking forward to continuing that.”

One of only seven right-catching goaltenders who has played in the NHL during the 2021-22 campaign, Domingue has credited goaltending coach Andy Chiodo with helping resurrect his career after he struggled, on and off the ice, last season.

“He’s been a big part of trying to turn my mindset around a little bit when I came into camp, which was not there at all,” said the 30-year-old who has eight NHL seasons on his resume. “It helped in that sense. Ever since I went back and forth with the NHL and AHL this year, he’s been in contact with me all along after games, giving me key points on things I need to work on, things that I did well. He’s been definitely a huge part of the success that I’ve had so far this year.”

With five games remaining on the regular-season schedule, Domingue figures to get at least one start during the upcoming weekend when the Penguins have road games against Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

He vows he’ll be prepared for whenever he’s called on next.

“You’re supposed to be ready as soon as you get called up,” Domingue said. “Nobody cares if you need time or not. You’re supposed to be ready as soon as you get up here.”

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