BUFFALO, N.Y. -- It has been 21 days since Casey DeSmith faced a shot in game action. But that is about to change.
Tonight, the Penguins' backup goalie will be in net when the Penguins face the Sabres at KeyBank Center. That will snap Matt Murray's run of nine consecutive starts, including two sets of back-to-back games. Murray went 6-1-2 over that span as the Penguins appear to have solidified one of the eight playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.
While Mike Sullivan has not been shy about using DeSmith in big games, including starts against top contenders like the Sharks, Golden Knights and Maple Leafs, this will be his first since Sullivan declared his team in "playoff mode." Sullivan said that in making his decision to rest Murray now, he had to weigh the bigger picture against a short-term gain.
"Matt's had a pretty heavy workload, we're trying to watch that," Sullivan explained. "We're trying to keep him at his best. We're trying to keep everyone at their best because that's what we're going to need to win each and every game. Casey's been good for us. We think this is the right decision at this time."
DeSmith has gone 14-11-5 this season with a 2.86 goals-against average and 9.16 save percentage. He had been one of the catalysts to the Penguins' turnaround in December when the club went 11-3-1, but since signing his three-year contact extension on Jan 11, he's won just two of his last seven starts.
BRADFORD'S VIEW
If ever Sullivan was going to get DeSmith a somewhat meaningful start, tonight was it.
Yes, the Sabres can go for the season series sweep, but they have won both games over the Penguins in overtime. The latest came just two weeks ago when Conor Sheary beat Murray on a weak wrister. However, the Sabres have gone 0-4-1 since then and tonight they will again be without Jack Eichel. Buffalo's captain, who leads the Sabres in both assists (47) and points (72), is serving the second game of his two-game suspension.
Judging by the enthusiasm -- or lack of it -- during the Sabres' morning skate on Thursday, they've packed it in. This should be a win, regardless of who is in goal.
The Penguins will have their final set of back-to-back games this weekend when they host the Blues and Flyers at PPG Paints Arena. The Blues are currently jockeying for position in the Central Division, while the Flyers are desperate for points as they try to get back in the playoff hunt. Look for Murray to get both starts this weekend.
• The Sabres held a very optional skate on Thursday. Among the half-dozen taking the ice was Alex Nylander. On Wednesday, the eighth overall pick in 2016 practiced on Buffalo's top line, now centered by Casey Mittelstadt, and is expected to skate there tonight. He was recalled after Eichel was suspended two games for an illegal hit on the Avalanche's Carl Soderberg. Eichel has seven points in 10 career games vs. the Penguins. Nylander, Michael Nylander's son and William Nylander's brother, has a goal and assist in seven NHL games over the last two seasons.
• Carter Hutton will get the start in goal opposite DeSmith. He is 3-0 in his career vs. Pittsburgh with a .957 save percentage and 1.36 goals-against average.
• Judging by the skate, it appears Sullivan will keep the same lines and pairs tonight:
McCann-Crosby-Guentzel
Blueger-Malkin-Kessel
Simon-Bjugstad-Hornqvist
Wilson-Cullen-Blandisi
Dumoulin-Trotman
Johnson-Schultz
Pettersson-Gudbranson
• This is Phil Housley's expected lineup tonight:
Nylander-Mittelstadt-Thompson
Sheary-Rodrigues-Reinhart
Skinner-Sobotka-Pominville
Wilson-Larsson-Okposo
Hunwick-Ristolainen
Dahlin-Montour
Scandella-Nelson
MATT SUNDAY GALLERY
Penguins at Sabres morning skate, Buffalo, N.Y., March 14, 2019 - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS