There was nothing silly about Louis Domingue's Penguins debut

There’s a silly way to describe Louis Domingue.

Literally.

To use the parlance of his vocation, he’s known as a “silly sider.”

By no means is it a derisive term. Nor is it a sentiment of respect.

It merely is a way of pointing out that he catches the puck with his right hand, something of a rarity for NHL goaltenders.

To wit, in 54 seasons, the Penguins have had only 10 such goaltenders appear in a game for them, including Domingue.

The nomenclature might be silly. But there was nothing silly about how he performed in his Penguins debut Saturday during a 2-1 overtime road win against the San Jose Sharks. Making 40 saves on 41 shots, Domingue kept the Penguins, who were outplayed for most of the contest, in position to claim an improbable victory.

“I thought it went pretty good,” Domingue said to media in San Jose on Saturday. “It’s how I visualized it. It was a long time coming. Every since (training) camp, I was prepared for this moment. I saw an opportunity. You either take it, or you don’t. I thought tonight, I came in focused, and we played up until the last whistle.”

It had been a long time since Domingue had heard a whistle as a participant in an NHL game. His last such appearance came as a member of the Calgary Flames on May 13. And it was his only game as an NHLer during the 2020-21 campaign.

Saturday’s victory came just over two years after his most recent NHL win. As a member of the New Jersey Devils, he claimed a 3-1 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Jan. 12, 2020.

A veteran of eight NHL seasons, Domingue was something of a lost soul this past offseason and did not sign with the Penguins until very late, agreeing to a one-year, two-way contract Sept. 2.

“I wasn’t in a good head space whatsoever,” Domingue said during training camp in September. “I didn’t believe in myself. I didn’t believe that I could be back to where I was.”

AP

Penguins goaltender Louis Domingue celebrates with forward Jeff Carter after the Penguins defeated the San Jose Sharks in overtime, 2-1, at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. on Saturday.

After some heart-to-heart discussions with goaltending coach Andy Chiodo, Domingue regained his lost confidence and was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL to open the season.

Recalled sporadically this season, he had dressed as the Pittsburgh Penguins’ backup for a handful of occasions before getting his first start Saturday.

A journeyman who has played for six NHL teams, the 29-year-old suggested he handled Saturday’s game much better than he would have at an earlier juncture in his career.

“I’ve been around a bit now where I can control those emotions,” Domingue said. “This year, when I play, I play. I just came out and played. I didn’t think of anything. When I’m in practice, I work on my game. When I’m in (a) game, I just try to have fun and play. It made a big difference this year in the way I played, and I enjoyed it.”

His teammates seemed to enjoy what he offered them Saturday.

“He kept us in the game,” said Penguins forward Jake Guentzel, who scored in overtime. “He was phenomenal. From the start, I don’t think we’re in the game without him. Obviously, a huge game by him. Well deserved because of how hard he works.”

Has that work merited greater consideration for a regular role on the NHL roster, especially given the struggles of incumbent backup Casey DeSmith?

“I’m just here to give a break to (starter Tristan Jarry),” Domingue said. “Whatever happens, happens. I’m certainly not thinking about any battle with any goaltender at all.

“I’m definitely not trying to steal anyone’s job. I’m just doing mine. And, trust me, it’s hard enough as is to do your own job here.”

After Saturday’s performance, it’s easy to trust Domingue always will take his job, whatever that might be, very seriously.

“It wasn’t hard tonight to stay focused,” Domingue said. “How couldn’t you? Playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, it’s a privilege to be on this team. It’s a privilege to be in this organization. That’s how you should come out every night. I know there’s nights that’s not going to go your way, and there’s nights you’re not going to be as good.

“The bottom line is what a privilege it is to be here.”

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