Jan. 19—Darren Pang has been around the NHL for four decades now — first as a scrappy, undersized goalie and then as an announcer and analyst for several TV networks. He has seen enough to know that it is too early to write off Tristan Jarry, but the signs are ominous. Jarry, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ starter, has been struggling to find his form, and the team’s lack of confidence in him is starting to show.
As the Penguins strive to make a deep playoff run, they need a reliable goalie to backstop their high-powered offense. However, Jarry’s inconsistent play has raised questions about his ability to be that guy. Pang, who has watched Jarry closely, believes that the goalie still has the potential to turn his season around, but it will require a lot of hard work and dedication.
“Tristan Jarry is a talented goalie, but he needs to find his focus and composure in the net,” Pang said in a recent interview. “He has the physical skills to be a top-notch goalie, but the mental aspect of the game is just as important. If he can get his head in the right place, I think he can still be a successful goalie in the NHL.”
Two other goalie experts, Kelly Hrudey and Mike McKenna, share Pang’s assessment of Jarry’s situation. Hrudey, a former NHL goalie and current analyst, thinks that Jarry’s struggles are partly due to the lack of a strong defensive system in front of him. “The Penguins have been giving up a lot of scoring chances, and that’s putting a lot of pressure on Jarry to make big saves,” Hrudey said. “If they can tighten up their defense, I think Jarry will be able to play more confidently and make the saves he needs to make.”
McKenna, a former NHL goalie and current coach, believes that Jarry needs to work on his puck-handling skills to become a more well-rounded goalie. “Jarry is a good athlete, but he sometimes struggles with playing the puck,” McKenna said. “If he can improve his puck-handling skills, I think he’ll be able to make more plays and help his team get out of their own zone more quickly.”
Despite the opinions of these experts, the future of Tristan Jarry in the NHL remains uncertain. The Penguins have a crucial stretch of games coming up, and if Jarry can’t find his form, they may be forced to look for other options in the net. However, Pang, Hrudey, and McKenna all agree that Jarry still has the potential to be a successful goalie in the NHL, and that with hard work and dedication, he can turn his season around and become a key player for the Penguins.