Tristan Jarry
For Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry, dealing with his latest injury might feel like no sweat. That’s an oversimplification, but considering he returned to practice Tuesday and seems to be on a good track, it sure is different from a lingering problem he had and learned from earlier in his career.
In 2022-23, Jarry got hurt during the Penguins’ outdoor game in Boston Jan. 2. He was in an out of the lineup a couple times in the ensuing couple months because of a lower-body injury that has never been revealed.
“It’s tough. That injury came from a lot of things,” Jarry reflected after he returned to practice Tuesday following his latest injury. “It was just something that happened. It was hard to manage.
“It was something that took my body probably over a year just to feel human again. So it was very tough. It’s still something that I sometimes deal with. So being able to have that injury and kind of learn from it – take your time and know your body a little bit more. I think it helps, but, obviously, those types of injuries inhibit you.”
It’s with that knowledge that Jarry is working his way back to the lineup after he got a lower-body injury at some point during a game Nov. 3 at Toronto. The original information from the Penguins was that Jarry would miss at least three weeks. That would put him on schedule to perhaps return next week.
“I guess I would be on schedule,” Jarry said. “Obviously, they have a plan in what they’re going to do, and I adhere to that plan. So I think it’s just going from a day-by-day standpoint, seeing how I feel and just working toward that.”
He added that Tuesday, his first time practicing with the team since his latest injury, went well.
Jarry, 30, had seemingly rebounded well from some turbulent seasons before he got hurt. He is 5-1 with a 2.60 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage this season, which he spent platooning every other game with Arturs Silovs before the injury.
Last season, the former All-Star struggled, went through waivers and even spent time in the American Hockey League.
While frustrating, the experience also made him stronger.
“It’s always hard,” he said. “That’s the whole part of goaltending. You see it throughout the year. You see all the goalies throughout the year. There’s ups and downs, there’s swings, there’s injuries, there’s highs and lows. So I think it’s being able to manage that. I think every year comes different challenges.
“It’s just learning. Being able to learn from mistakes I’ve made and the positives I’ve had. Kind of looking back and reflecting on those and being able to say what worked, what doesn’t work, and being able to kind of nitpick and see what you like and don’t like, and just go from there.”
Jarry and the Penguins have missed the playoffs the past three seasons, but like so many other observers, he is impressed with the Penguins through 19 games. They are third in the Metropolitan Division with 24 points and are coming off a trip to Sweden where they earned three of a possible four points.
“They’ve been awesome,” Jarry said of his teammates. “Every game has been a collective effort. The biggest thing is, I think we’re getting to a point where we have a chance to win every game, and I think that comes from everyone within this (locker) room, whether guys are blocking shots or getting big plays, the power play, the penalty kill, everyone’s doing a great job collectively just being a team.”
Jarry deferred to management on when he might return to game action. But he also took the long view rather than pushing things or being impatient.
“When you get older, you learn that a little bit more,” he said. “When you’re younger, you want to play every game. You want to be a part of every game, but sometimes when you’re playing through those injuries, it kind of (prohibits) you from doing your best.
“I think being able to take a step back and work on your body and your mind and that aspect of it, and just come back your full version, I think that helps a lot.”
Tags: Pittsburgh Penguins Shelly Anderson Tristan Jarry
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