CRANBERRY, Pa. -- Tristan Jarry's work during regulation is a big part of the reason the Penguins have been able to accumulate 12 points in the standings after 11 games.
And his performance in shootouts is a major factor in why they don't have more.
Jarry enters the Penguins' game against the Panthers Thursday at 7:08 p.m. at PPG Paints Arena with a 4-2-3 record, 2.28 goals-against average and .926 save percentage.
He is, however, 0-3 in shootouts -- no other goalie has more than one loss in them this season -- and has stopped just three of the 10 shots he's faced after overtime this season. Both Chicago shooters beat him during the Blackhawks' 3-2 shootout victory at the United Center Tuesday.
"It's something I have to improve on," Jarry said after practice Wednesday. "It's something I've been working on. It's tough. There's the best players in the world coming at you. ... I think I just have to be more assertive and make sure I'm showing my best version of myself. ... I'll be the first one to be happiest when it does happen."
If Jarry is experiencing any confidence issues because of his struggles in shootouts, they haven't bled over into his performance during regulation and overtime.
"It's definitely not had an impact on his (overall) game, at all," acting head coach Todd Reirden said. "I think he's been excellent in situations, in-game, where there are breakaways. The 2-on-0 he has to stop last night in overtime ... I think he's been real strong on those, in-game."
Indeed, Jarry has fared pretty well on breakaways, but he pointed out that they're decidedly different than the penalty shot-style chances goalies face in a shootout.
"It's you and the player, and the player has the advantage," Jarry said. "They're able to slow down, speed up and you're basically just sitting there, waiting. ... It's all reading-and-reacting. They're doing just as much as you are. If you move left, they're going to try to go right.
"You have no back-checker. You have nobody pressuring (the shooter). You have all the time in the world. They can wait and take 10 minutes to come down and shoot, if they really want."
The Penguins, of course, hope that Jarry soon will exorcise whatever it is that's bedeviling him during shootouts. Jarry, meanwhile, could be forgiven for wishing his teammates would take advantage of his consistently strong play during regulation and overtime to win a few games before they ever get to a shootout.
"Every game, I've been giving the team a chance," he said. "I think that's, ultimately, what my goal is."
MORE FROM THE PRACTICE
• Reirden said defensemen Marcus Pettersson and Chad Ruhwedel, both recently out of the COVID-10 protocol, will be "game-time decisions" Thursday. They took part in a pre-practice workout with Evgeni Malkin, then returned for the team session. Both said they experienced only minor symptoms during their bouts with coronavirus -- "The biggest thing for me was just (losing the sense of) taste and smell," Ruhwedel said -- and seemed optimistic about being able to return against the Panthers. "I felt pretty good today," Pettersson said. "I skated yesterday, too. It's getting better each day. It's been a long 10 days."
• The bottom two lines were reconfigured during practice, with Danton Heinen moving to left wing with Teddy Blueger and Brock McGinn and Zach Aston-Reese dropping to the fourth unit with Brian Boyle and Drew O'Connor. "Danton is a guy who's had a really strong start to the year," Reirden said. "Getting him a little more opportunity, I think he's earned that."
• Reirden said that Sidney Crosby, Brian Dumoulin and Mike Sullivan are "all nearing the end" of their time in the COVID-19 protocol. "To the best of my knowledge, everyone continues to get better," Reirden said. "It's a crazy virus, in terms of how it affects every (individual differently)."
• Personnel combinations:
Jake Guentzel - Jeff Carter - Bryan Rust
Jason Zucker - Evan Rodrigues - Kasperi Kapanen
Danton Heinen - Teddy Blueger - Brock McGinn
Drew O'Connor - Brian Boyle - Zach Aston-Reese
Mike Matheson - Kris Letang
P.O Joseph - John Marino
Juuso Riikola - Mark Friedman
Marcus Pettersson - Chad Ruhwedel
Extras: Dominik Simon, Sam Lafferty
No. 1 power play: Letang, Carter, Rust, Kapanen, Guentzel
No. 2 power play: Riikola/Marino, Heinen, Zucker, O'Connor, Rodrigues
