Kris Letang, Kevin Hayes game-time decisions vs. Jets; Tristan Jarry scheduled to start
The Pittsburgh Penguins may return a pair of veterans to their lineup Friday night for a showdown at PPG Paints Arena against the NHL’s best club.
Defenseman Kris Letang, who has missed three games because of illness, and forward Kevin Hayes, who is on injured reserve with an undisclosed ailment, are game-time decisions vs. the Winnipeg Jets, per coach Mike Sullivan.
Hayes has missed the Penguins’ last seven games.
The Jets (16-3-0) arrive in Pittsburgh with the most wins and points (32) in hockey.
Their 80 goals also lead the league, as do their 4.21 goals per game.
Additionally, Winnipeg boasts the NHL’s mos potent power play, with a 35.7% success rate.
Looking to pick up his first NHL win post-recall from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League is Tristan Jarry, whom Sullivan announced as Friday’s starter.
Jarry is 1-2-1 with a 4.72 goals-against average and .863 save percentage.
Jarry will make his second straight start for the Penguins.
He has started two games after being called back up to the club following an extended conditioning stint in the AHL to improve his overall performance.
Things didn’t go well for him Nov. 15 in Columbus, as he allowed five goals on 38 shots in a lopsided defeat to the Blue Jackets.
Jarry was in net Tuesday when the Penguins were edged 3-2 in overtime by Tampa Bay.
• Injured forwards Cody Glass and Blake Lizotte, both of whom remain on injured reserve because of concussions, skated with the Penguins’ group Friday.
• Friday’s list of attendees were as follows:
Forwards: Vasily Ponomarev, Glass, Hayes, Evgeni Malkin, Jesse Puljujarvi, Lizotte, Valtteri Puustinen, Sam Poulin, Anthony Beauvillier, Drew O’Connor
Defensemen: Letang, Matt Grzelcyk, Ryan Shea, Owen Pickering, Jack St. Ivany, Ryan Graves
Goalies: Alex Nedeljkovic
• Per Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg News, the Jets are expected to start Connor Hellebuyck in net. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner, Hellebuyck is 13-2-0 with a 2.20 goals-against average and .923 save percentage. Among qualified goalies, he leads the NHL in wins, GAA, save percentage and shutouts (3).
Justin Guerriero is a TribLive reporter covering the Penguins, Pirates and college sports. A Pittsburgh native, he is a Central Catholic and University of Colorado graduate. He joined the Trib in 2022 after covering the Colorado Buffaloes for Rivals and freelancing for the Denver Post. He can be reached at jguerriero@triblive.com.
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