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Pittsburgh Penguins confirms goaltender Casey DeSmith (1) will not be playing in Thursday's Game 2 against the Rangers. Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Penguins' Casey DeSmith, Rickard Rakell out for Game 2 at Rangers

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 5/5/22

As had been expected since early Wednesday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Penguins will be down to their third-choice goaltender and also without a key forward when they look to grab a 2-0 first-round series lead at the New York Rangers on Thursday night.

Penguins coach Mike Sullivan has confirmed that neither goalie Casey DeSmith nor forward Rickard Rakell will play in Thursday's Game 2 held at Madison Square Garden due to the injuries they picked up in the Game 1 triple-overtime win on Tuesday evening:

Mike Sullivan said that Casey DeSmith and Rickard Rakell remain day-to-day and will NOT play in Game 2. Jason Zucker will be a game-time decision.
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) May 5, 2022

DeSmith, atop the depth chart because standard starter Tristan Jarry has been out with a reported right foot injury since the middle of April, exited Tuesday's contest during the second overtime period with what's been called a lower-body injury and was replaced by backup Louis Domingue. Domingue made only two NHL regular-season starts in 2021-22 but produced 17 saves to keep the Pens alive until Evgeni Malkin scored his game-winner in triple overtime.

As Jon Lane noted for the league's website, Domingue will be making his first-ever career Stanley Cup Playoffs start. On Wednesday, Pittsburgh recalled Alex D'Orio from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League to serve as Domingue's backup for at least Game 2.

It's assumed Jarry won't be available for Game 3 on Saturday night in Pittsburgh, and DeSmith's status for the weekend is unclear as of Thursday afternoon:

Louis Domingue will start Game 2. "He’s confident," Sullivan said. "He has a little swagger to him. I think that serves him well.”

When asked if Tristan Jarry or Casey DeSmith could be available for Game 3, Sullivan said they're not thinking that far ahead right now.
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) May 5, 2022

Meanwhile, Rakell went down with an apparent head injury when he was hit by Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren late in the first period on Tuesday. The visibly shaken 29-year-old never returned to the game and, like DeSmith, is officially considered "day-to-day."

Rakell joined the Penguins via a trade from the Anaheim Ducks before the March deadline and tallied four goals and nine assists across 19 games with his new club.

Sullivan said they've hit the reset button following Game 1. "Once that game is played and we review it, go through film, share some of the insights that we see as a coaching staff with our players – we move by it. And at this point, we’ve moved by it. We're ready for Game 2."
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) May 5, 2022

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