Pittsburgh Penguins vs Dallas Stars Picks and Predictions November 11th 2024

Penguins Face Stars, Eyeing Goaltender Tristan Jarry’s Return

The Pittsburgh Penguins are back on home ice Monday night, hosting the Dallas Stars, and a familiar face could be back in the mix for the Penguins — goaltender Tristan Jarry.

After a challenging start to the season, Jarry, who led the NHL with six shutouts last season, was sent down to Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on October 24 to regain his form. Jarry struggled significantly in his first three games this season, allowing 12 goals on just 73 shots, including a rough outing against the Buffalo Sabres where he surrendered three goals on five shots in under 12 minutes.

However, Jarry seems to have found his groove in the AHL, posting a 4-1 record with a 2.16 goals-against average in five games. Speaking with reporters on Sunday, Jarry expressed that the stint was beneficial, giving him much-needed game repetitions.

A Decision for Mike Sullivan

Head coach Mike Sullivan now has a decision to make with three goaltenders on the roster. The Penguins’ schedule this week is packed with four games, providing ample opportunities for Jarry to re-establish himself. However, Sullivan remains non-committal on whether Jarry will immediately reclaim the No. 1 goaltending position.

“I think one of the potential benefits of it is, one of them will have an opportunity to get quality practice time if that particular goalie isn’t backing up,” Sullivan said. “For example, this week, we got four games. There’s a lot of opportunity there.”

The Penguins are coming off a successful three-game road trip, capped by a 4-2 win over the rival Washington Capitals on Friday. They picked up three out of a possible six points on the trip, showing resilience despite their goaltending uncertainties.

Dallas Stars Adjusting to Busy Schedule

The Dallas Stars, meanwhile, are looking to find their rhythm after a busy start to November. The Stars began the month with two games in Finland against the Florida Panthers, followed by a long break before facing the Chicago Blackhawks and Winnipeg Jets last week.

The Stars fell 4-1 to the Jets on Saturday, marking their second loss in four games since returning from Europe. Head coach Peter DeBoer saw the game as another measuring stick against top competition, much like the overseas matchups against the reigning Stanley Cup champions.

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Winnipeg jumped to an early 4-0 lead, forcing DeBoer to pull starting goaltender Jake Oettinger after he conceded four goals on just 15 shots. The Stars had previously shown strong form against lesser teams but have struggled against higher-caliber opponents.

“I think when you look at these guys and Florida, you know, they’ve exposed us, and we’ve got to be a lot better,” DeBoer noted. “I think we’ve beaten the teams we should beat, but when we’ve had opportunities to play the top teams in the league, we haven’t risen to the occasion.”

Key Matchup: Veteran Scorers on Display

Monday’s game will also serve as a showcase for some of the NHL’s top veteran talents. The Stars’ Matt Duchene, 33, leads the team with seven goals and 15 points, while Tyler Seguin, 32, is close behind with six goals.

For the Penguins, the dynamic duo of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin continues to power the team. Malkin, 38, leads Pittsburgh with 13 assists and 18 points, while Crosby, 37, shares the team lead in goals with Rickard Rakell, both sitting at six. Crosby also has 16 points on the season.

Outlook

The Penguins will be hoping Jarry’s potential return can stabilize their goaltending and build off the momentum from their recent road trip. Meanwhile, the Stars will aim to bounce back from a disappointing performance in Winnipeg and prove they can compete against top-tier teams.

The game promises an exciting clash between two experienced rosters looking to assert themselves as playoff contenders in their respective conferences.