Tristan Jarry delivered a stellar performance on Saturday night, pitching a 31-save shutout as the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the San Jose Sharks 3-0. The victory at the SAP Center marked the end of the Penguins' road trip and improved their season record to 4-2-0.
Jarry's shutout was the 22nd of his career, all with the Penguins. This achievement ties him for second place in franchise history with Hockey Hall of Fame enshrinee Tom Barrasso. Marc-Andre Fleury holds the franchise record with 44 shutouts.
The game was also a matchup against Jarry’s former teammate, Alex Nedeljkovic, who was traded to the Sharks earlier this year. Nedeljkovic stopped 24 of 26 shots.
The Penguins and Sharks battled through a scoreless first period. Sidney Crosby broke the deadlock at 7:35 of the second period, deflecting a shot past Nedeljkovic. Kris Letang fired a wrist shot from the right point, which Crosby deflected into the net. Letang and Rickard Rakell were credited with assists on the play.
Anthony Mantha extended Pittsburgh's lead at 7:02 of the third period. Evgeni Malkin carried the puck into the offensive zone and passed to Justin Brazeau on the left wing. Brazeau then sent a backhand pass to Mantha, who scored. Malkin sealed the win with an empty-net goal, also earning an assist on Crosby's earlier goal.
Jarry's performance was the key to the Penguins' victory, as he turned away every shot he faced, securing his first shutout of the season. The Penguins' defense also played a crucial role, limiting the Sharks' scoring opportunities and supporting Jarry's efforts.