Looks like Jarry in goal and Lindbom signed

Tristan Jarry looks like he could be the starting goalie in Game Seven against the New York Rangers Sunday.   He was the lead netminder in the Penguins’ practice on Saturday with Louis Domingue mostly a spectator.  Pittsburgh is abuzz after Sidney Crosby also practiced with the team in a non-contract optional skate.

According to Penguins Coach Mike Sullivan there is no definite word on who will play. He listed Crosby, Jarry and Rickard Rakell as day-to-day and they were all at the practice.  Brian Dumoulin is also day-to-day but didn’t skate.  Brian Boyle, who played only two shifts on Friday, is still being evaluated.

A return for Jarry means the end of the Louis Domingue story.  How Jarry will be prepared to play after missing a full month is a big question.  He last played on April 14. He was an All-Star this season, but last year he imploded in the Penguins six game First Round loss to the Islanders, allowing 21 goals in six starts.

As for the Rangers on Saturday, they didn’t have any organized practice and it looks like Coach Gerard Gallant will go with the same lineup that has won the last two games.

Both the Rangers and Penguins have winning records in Game Sevens so there is no way to predict the result based on past history.

If Crosby is able to play it will be a huge lift for the Penguins,but the biggest issue is the nature of his injury.  Emily Kaplan of ESPN reported that he did suffer a concussion.

If it was a concussion, it would be his fourth.  Concussion have caused him to miss well over 100 games in his career.   It would be tough for him to play if that is the case and it’s important to note that while he has been skating, it has been in a non-contact situation.

Rangers sign goalie Olof Lindbom

The Rangers made a move, signing Swedish netminder Olof Lindbom to an Entry Level Contract.  His 39th overall selection in the second round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft raised eyebrows as he hadn’t been projected to go that high.

He was picked after an outstanding performance at the U18 World Junior Championships, posting a 1.66 GAA and .920 Sv%.  However, he has not lived up to that standard in the time since.  He has suffered some injuries that set him back and has yet to make an appearance in the top tier Swedish Hockey League.

This season, he played a full schedule for Kristianstads in the HockeyAllsvenskan league and had his best season.

The signing is not surprising.  The Rangers had to get him under contract before June or he would have become an Unrestricted Free Agent.  He turns 22 in July.

Add him to the Rangers goalie depth chart that includes pending UFA’s Keith Kinkaid and Adam Huska along with Tyler Wall who played only 13 games this season in the  AHL and ECHL due to depth in the organization and Dylan Garand who starred for Kamloops in the WHL.  Garand is under contract and should turn pro in the fall after he has turned 20.