PITTSBURGH (AP) — For the first time in NHL history, goalies that were involved in the same trade faced one another within seven days of the deal.
Tristan Jarry and Stuart Skinner, traded for one another just five days ago, starred against their former teams as Edmonton visited Pittsburgh on Tuesday night.
The Oilers, on Friday, dealt Skinner, defenseman Brett Kulak and a 2029 second-round pick to Pittsburgh in exchange for Jarry and forward Sam Poulin.
The Penguins honored Jarry during the first television timeout on Tuesday. Fans applauded as Jarry waved his stick to the crowd, tapped his chest and held his glove in the air.
The two-time Western Conference champions acquired Jarry from the Penguins in the hopes of shoring up a position that has cost them during their deep playoff runs in recent years. Jarry stopped 25 shots during his Oilers’ debut against Toronto on Saturday. Skinner made his Penguins’ debut Tuesday, as he and Kulak spent the weekend settling the immigration process.
Skinner, a 2017 third-round pick who has the fifth-most wins in Oilers’ history, helped Edmonton reach the Stanley Cup Final the last two seasons. Pittsburgh also has a deep prospect pool in goal, led by 21-year-old Sergei Murashov, in addition to 23-year-old Joel Blomqvist and 24-year-old Arturs Silovs, the backup to Skinner on Tuesday.
The Oilers’ problems in goal have played a role in keeping Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl and company from getting over the hump and winning the Stanley Cup, particularly in the last two seasons against Florida.
Jarry, a two-time All-Star with Pittsburgh, starred for the Edmonton Oil Kings in junior hockey. He signed a five-year contract with Pittsburgh in 2023, but struggled so badly last season that the Penguins demoted him to their minor league affiliate. The 30-year-old Jarry bounced back under first-year Penguins’ coach Dan Muse, as he started the season 9-3-1 with a 2.66 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage.
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