PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – One of six goalies with multiple shutouts this year, those coming in the last two games. The save percentage is .927 and the goals against is 2.17.
How did Tristan Jarry come from the .888 save percentage and 3.18 goals against average in the 2021 post-season to where he is now?
The 26 year-old said it started to change over the summer as the Pens flew new goalie coach Andy Chiodo to Jarry’s home in British Columbia to work with him. Jarry said the adjustments Chiodo made had him ready to go before he got to training camp.
“I think just be better,” Jarry said of the discussion during the off-season. “That was my mindset going into the summer. I wanted to work hard and be a better goalie. I wanted to prove I had a good summer and was able to work on some things.”
Only a couple of months as his boss and watching him flame out in the post-season, Pens general manager Ron Hextall stuck with him. Even with external and possibly some internal pressure to at least bring in a goalie to compete with him. Jarry said they had several talks over the few months between last season and this. Hextall assured Jarry he would be their guy.
“It’s something that motivated me,” Jarry said. “It motivated me to be better. It motivated me to work harder every day. That was something that was a sign of relief. I knew I could be coming back and I think it was something I wanted to prove to them they weren’t making a mistake.”
“We know how talented he is,” said Pens head coach Mike Sullivan. “We know how capable he is. He’s a young goalie and we believe he’s capable of doing great things.”
“He’s a guy that has so much upside, so much potential. When he’s on his game, he’s as good as the top goaltenders in the league. It’s more about just trying to manage his own mindset, staying in the moment and not getting overwhelmed with any circumstances that get in his way.”
What has really helped Jarry is Sullivan and Hextall allowing him to play as much as he has. Only Toronto’s Jack Campbell has played more than Jarry this season.
“I’m enjoying it,” Jarry said. “It’s making me better. I think as I get to play more, I’m feeling the game a lot better. It’s making me a better goalie being able to go night-in and night-out and just focusing on my game.”
“Doing everything I can and the guys are doing a great job. We are getting blocks, getting clears when we need to. I think that’s been the key to our success lately.”
“He’s just steady,” said Pens captain Sidney Crosby. “That’s the biggest thing. Some of those saves, he’s calm. He looks really calm in there. It’s not just the saves, but the way he looks in there.”
“I see him every day. He’s pretty solid. He’s played great hockey.”
“Jars is playing huge,” said defenseman Brian Dumoulin. “He’s making some big saves at big times. He’s been great.”
“High-end goaltender,” said forward Jake Guentzel. “He’s playing with confidence and we have all the confidence in the world in him. We are happy for him. To see the way he is playing is pretty special right now. It’s cool to see.”
“He’s played really well,” Sullivan said. “He’s just staying in the moment. That’s really the conversation I had with him a lot, control those things that are within your own power. Don’t get overwhelmed by any sort of noise around the group. Let’s learn on each experience. Let’s not dwell on each experience.”
“I think he’s done a terrific job of just focusing on his game, staying in the moment. Just trying to make that next save and go from there. He’s making timely saves for us that’s given our team an opportunity to win games.”