Penguins No. 1 goaltender to remain out for Game 1, Zatkoff starting vs. Rangers

PITTSBURGH, – Marc-Andre Fleury will not start for the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 1 after all.

All signs Wednesday morning pointed to Fleury starting the opener against the Rangers, but it was 28-year-old Jeff Zatkoff leading the Penguins onto the ice, joined for pre-game warmups by 20-year-old Tristan Jarry, who has never appeared in an NHL game.

The 31-year-old Fleury took the morning skate with his teammates and set up shop in the home net customary of that night’s starter. Penguins coach Mike Sullivan was coy about his goaltending plans though, calling it a game-time decision.

The Rangers said they were expecting Fleury to start.

Zatkoff has made only 29 career starts in the NHL, boasting a .915 save percentage. He has never appeared in the Stanley Cup playoffs before Wednesday night.

Fleury has been sidelined since Mar. 31 with a concussion. His backup, Matt Murray, was injured on the final day of the regular season.