Penguins Call Up Top Goalie Prospect Joel Blomqvist

LOS ANGELES — The Pittsburgh Penguins have called up goalie Joel Blomqvist from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for at least their game Thursday against the LA Kings at Crypto.com Arena. The NHL website shows the goalie on the Penguins NHL roster, and a source has confirmed to Pittsburgh Hockey Now Thursday morning, but the team has not yet announced it.

The move likely means that starting goalie Tristan Jarry will be out for at least the game Thursday, if not longer.

Jarry suffered a head injury in a potentially ugly sequence near the end of the second period against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. Ducks forward Adam Henrique bowled through the top of the crease, contacting Jarry’s head.

In the process, Jarry’s mask was dislodged just as the Ducks’ Ryan Strome released a wrist shot. The puck made contact with Jarry’s head or loosened mask. He suffered a laceration and immediately skated off the ice.

Coach Mike Sullivan said Wednesday that the team was awaiting word and Jarry was undergoing further examinations.

Magnus Hellberg finished the game for the Penguins, stopping all 11 shots he faced and preserving the shutout. It was Hellberg’s second appearance with the Pittsburgh Penguins after starting the season with their AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Hellberg was the Penguins’ third goalie and has 25 games of NHL experience. He will be the Penguins starting goalie until at least Nov. 19, when backup Alex Nedeljkovic can be activated from the long-term injured reserve list.

Joel Blomqvist, 21, who played in the preseason, has been the WBS Penguins No. 1 goalie, starting seven of their first 10 games. Blomqvist has posted a .920 save percentage and a 1.91 goals against average.

The 6-foot-2, 187-pound netminder was the Penguins second-round pick (52nd overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft. He made the jump to North America this season after playing in the top Finnish league over the last two seasons.