Penguins slated to start goaltender Casey DeSmith against Blues
The Penguins are expected to start goaltender Casey DeSmith in Wednesday’s home game against the St. Louis Blues at PPG Paints Arena.
Coach Mike Sullivan announced DeSmith’s status following an optional morning skate.
This will mark the first occasion this season DeSmith has started in back-to-back contests. He made 22 saves on 27 shots in Sunday’s 8-5 home win against the San Jose Sharks.
In seven games this season, DeSmith has a 3-3-1 record, a 3.32 goals against average, an. 894 save percentage and one shutout.
Having been removed from the NHL’s list for covid-19 protocols, top goaltender Tristan Jarry is expected to serve as the backup to DeSmith. Such a deployment could potentially allow Jarry to start in Thursday’s road game against the rival Philadelphia Flyers.
Notes:
• Sullivan indicated forwards Teddy Blueger and Kasperi Kapanen are each available for Wednesday’s game after recently being removed from the covid-19 protocols list. Both players missed Sunday’s game.
Blueger has appeared in 30 games this season and has 12 points (seven goals, five assists) while averaging 16:22 of average ice time per contest.
In 30 games this season, Kapanen has 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) and has clocked an average of 16:54 of ice time per contest.
• Forward Jeff Carter was removed from the covid-19 protocols list on Wednesday morning and participated in Wednesday’s morning skate. Sullivan said Carter would not play against the Blues.
• With Carter removed, the Penguins’ only player in protocol for covid-19 is rookie forward Drew O’Connor.
• Forward Evgeni Malkin took part in the morning skate but remains sidelined as he recovers from offseason surgery to his right knee. He has been designated to long-term injured reserve all season.
• Those who participated in the optional morning skated included forwards Zach Aston-Reese, Kasper Bjorkqvist, Blueger, Brian Boyle, Carter, Kapanen, Sam Lafferty, Malkin, Dominik Simon and Radim Zohorna; defensemen Mark Friedman, Mike Matheson, Juuso Riikola, Chad Ruhwedel and Marcus Pettersson; DeSmith and Jarry.
• The Penguins are expected to return Blueger, Kapanen and Jarry to their active roster and place some of their reserve players — such as forwards Bjorkqvist, Zohorna and goaltender Louis Domingue — on the taxi squad.
• Goaltender Jordan Binnington is expected to start for the Blues. In 19 games this season, Binnington has a 10-6-3 record, a 2.89 goals against average, a .910 save percentage and one shutout.
• The Blues “recalled” a coach from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate for this game. Springfield Thunderbirds head coach Drew Bannister was summoned to the NHL club. He will help replace assistant coaches Mike Van Ryn, who was placed into covid-19 protocols, and Steve Ott, who is dealing with a back injury.
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
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