The New York Islanders won’t have to exhaust too much energy trying to figure out who starts in goal for the Penguins. While Mike Sullivan hasn’t come out and said it, it’s probably safe to assume he sticks with the goalie who started 20 of the last 21 games to lug them into the playoffs.
One would think the Penguins could just gaze back at the Islanders and guess they will go with the guy who finished in the top five in save percentage and won about 60 percent of his starts.
The problem? The Islanders actually have two of them.
Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss teamed up to lead the NHL in total goals allowed. Lehner, who made 43 starts, had a .930 save percentage. Greiss, who started 39, is right behind him at .927.
Islanders coach Barry Trotz has not tipped his hand, leaving the Penguins guessing whether Lehner or Greiss will start Game 1 of their first-round playoff matchup at Nassua Coliseum.
“It could be either one,” Bryan Rust. “It could be both over the course of the series.”
Sullivan said that from a team strategy standpoint, it doesn’t matter which they face.
“They’re both good goalies. They’ve both stopped the puck for them this year,” he said. “Our focus is more about us and our team and making sure that we execute and we try to get to our game.”
Before every game, though, Penguins players do receive a dossier on each goalie.
“You look at their weaknesses and strengths,” Rust said. “And you look at certain areas on the ice or certain spots on the net where you might want to shoot, where guys might be susceptible.”
Rust noted that while both have gotten the job done, the way they go about it differs. Lehner, he said, is “more of a butterfly-type goalie” who tries to “take away as much space as you can.” Greiss, meanwhile, is “a little bit more old school” in that he is more instinctual and aggressive.
“You’re aware of tendencies and things like that,” Sidney Crosby said. “But both have played really well for them this year. ... You’re always trying to pick up tendencies and there’s always scouting reports on everybody. But at the end of the day, you have to go out there and execute.”
The Penguins, of course, are quite familiar with Greiss. He backed up Marc-Andre Fleury in 2014-15. In November, he stole a win against his old team, sprawling to stymie Crosby on a breakaway in overtime. In their next meeting, though, the Penguins put up five goals on 21 shots.
Lehner stopped 46 of 49 shots in two games against the Penguins this season. They previously had his number. He has a .899 save percentage in nine career appearances against them.
No clarity on D
A day after Sullivan raised eyebrows by having Jack Johnson practice with Kris Letang, the coach again shuffled his defensive pairings Tuesday. This time, it was Olli Maatta who skated with Letang. Johnson, meanwhile, was back with Justin Schultz, his partner much of the past two months.
Brian Dumoulin, who returned to practice Monday, was again with Zach Trotman on the fourth pair during practice. Sullivan said Dumoulin, who missed the last three games with a lower-body injury, is a game-time decision, as is forward Zach Aston-Reese, who was also hurt below the belt.
It’s been difficult to glean what the lineup will look like Wednesday – which might be what Sullivan is shooting for. Is Dumoulin expected to play and Sullivan has been playing coy? Or did Dumoulin skate with Trotman because he’s actually not ready, forcing Sullivan to pick another partner for Letang?
Asked Tuesday if he already knew which six defensemen he planned to use going forward, Sullivan said, “We’ll make the decisions accordingly when the time comes. Obviously, they’re difficult decisions. … All of those guys have done a great job of helping us win games down the stretch.”
Sullivan added, “Everybody’s got to stay ready because we’re going to need everybody.”
Jarry recalled early
The Penguins on Tuesday recalled goalie Tristan Jarry from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL. The team added that the plan was for Jarry to meet the team on Long Island on Wednesday.
The timing of that transaction was curious given that the AHL club has not yet been eliminated from playoff contention, though it must win its final three games and get a lot of help to get in.
Sullivan briefly spoke Monday with general manager Jim Rutherford about recalling Jarry now and said that it was “just making sure that we have healthy bodies available for the playoffs.”
The 23-year-old appeared in 47 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, going 23-15-8 with a .915 save percentage. He was pulled from his last start and gave up four goals in four of his final six.
The organization may also want to get a look at Alex D’Orio, who initially signed two years ago after going undrafted. He signed an amateur tryout agreement with the AHL club last week.
Emphasis on entries
The Penguins practice their power play during most practices, but their five-on-four work is typically limited to one end of the rink. Tuesday, though, Sullivan asked his power-play personnel to bring the puck up the ice from the defensive zone so they could work on zone entries.
He suggested that had more to do with having a little extra practice time to work on things than it did on the matchup with the Islanders, whose penalty-kill ranked 17th at 79.9%. That checks out considering that turnovers near the opponent’s blue line have led to short-handed goals.
“We’ve got to make the right decisions there,” Sullivan added. “Timing is important. Cooperative play. You’ve got to skate proper routes. You’ve got to finish your routes. Puck support is a critical part of having success on the entries. And, so, periodically we try to work on the full-ice power play.”
Matt Vensel: mvensel@post-gazette.com and Twitter @mattvensel.
First Published: April 9, 2019, 6:54 p.m.