CRANBERRY, Pa. -- In less than three weeks, the Penguins and Canadiens will face off in Game 1 of their qualifying round series in Toronto.
How do the two teams stack up against each other? We’ll take a look at both teams’ rosters, position-by-position. First we looked at the forwards, and then the defense. Today we conclude with the goaltenders
PENGUINS
Matt Murray
Tristan Jarry
Casey DeSmith
Emil Larmi
Alex D'Orio
Big questions:
Murray would be my expected starter for Game 1, given his playoff experience. We saw him starting to be given more consecutive starts toward the end of the regular season, presumably in preparation for the postseason. Still, it's not set in stone yet that it'll be Murray's net for the playoffs.
Jarry said after Wednesday's training camp practice that the coaching staff hasn't spoken with him about what his role will be in the playoffs.
"It's up in the air," he said. "I just think we're trying to get back in shape as quick as we can and get ready to play, and get ready for that first exhibition game."
I asked Jarry if this camp feels like a battle for that starting job.
"I think for me and Matt, it's just to get back to where we left off, back to gameplay and back to being in the mindset of playing every other night," he said. "I think when we both play our best, if it's me or Matt in net, we'll both have a very good chance with the team."
CANADIENS
Carey Price
Charlie Lindgren
Cayden Primeau
Michael McNiven
Big questions:
Unlike with the Penguins, there's no debate on who the Canadiens' starter will be for Game 1. It's Price's net. The backup job, however, is still very much up for grabs.
Lindgren, 26, has spent his four professional seasons split between Montreal and their AHL affiliate. He spent most of this season with Laval in the AHL, and posted a 3.33 goals-against average and a .888 save percentage in his six games with Montreal.
Primeau, 20, is in his first professional season. He was Laval's starting goaltender this season, and played two games with Montreal, recording a 2.52 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage.
McNiven, 23, spent most of this season in the ECHL, but had a successful 2018-19 campaign in the AHL as Laval's starter.
The battle will likely be between Lindgren and Primeau for the backup job.
"We have lots of time to decide on the backup goaltender," Claude Julien told reporters on Wednesday. "In a way, we hope that we never have to use (our backup), and that Carey is going to deliver and carry us a long way. What I can tell you right now is - having spoken with (goaltending coach) Stephane (Waite) - all three goaltenders behind Carey are practicing extremely hard right now. And all three of them are looking good, so I think we've got a really nice problem right now."
MATCHUP
Price, regularly voted as the league's best goaltender by his peers, is the best goaltender in this series.
The best tandem, though, is Pittsburgh's. Murray and Jarry are both capable of being No. 1 goaltenders in this league. Going further down the depth chart, the Penguins have the edge as well. Occasionally, disaster can strike and the No. 3 goaltender may have to step into a game. Remember Jeff 'Mr. Game 1' Zatkoff in 2016? I'd take DeSmith, who has already been a backup goaltender in this league and had a strong season in Wilkes-Barre over any of the Canadiens' third options.
