Penguins lose goalie Casey DeSmith to surgery; Louis Domingue will start Game 3
Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Louis Domingue protects his net during the second period of Game 2 of a first-round playoff series against the New York Rangers, Thursday, May 5, 2022. Credit: AP/Frank Franklin II
GREENBURGH, N.Y. — The Penguins’ playoff hopes could be riding on the play of third-string goalie Louis Domingue.
Penguins coach Mike Sullivan told reporters Friday that goalie Casey DeSmith is going to miss the rest of the postseason after undergoing core muscle surgery that morning. DeSmith left the ice Tuesday in the second overtime of the Penguins’ 4-3 triple-overtime victory over the Rangers in Game 1 of their first-round series.
With No. 1 goalie Tristan Jarry already sidelined with what reportedly is a broken foot, Domingue was tapped to relieve DeSmith. His play basically clinched the Game 1 win as he made 17 saves before Evgeni Malkin scored the winning goal. Domingue then allowed five goals on 40 shots in the Rangers’ 5-2 victory Thursday at Madison Square Garden.
That game was the 30-year-old Domingue’s first playoff start. The eight-year veteran will get at least one more start as he will be between the pipes Saturday for Game 3 of the series in Pittsburgh.
Sullivan has said Jarry is day-to-day, but the All-Star netminder didn’t participate in Pittsburgh’s optional practice on Friday. Alex D’Orio was recalled from the AHL to back up Domingue in Game 2.
Barbara Barker is an award-winning columnist and features writer in the sports department at Newsday. She has covered sports in New York for more than 20 years.
