Penguins center Jeff Carter, goalie Tristan Jarry placed in COVID protocol

The Pittsburgh Penguins have a couple more unexpected absences, as Jeff Carter and Tristan Jarry have been put in the COVID protocol. According to head coach Mike Sullivan, who spoke with reporters including Wes Crosby of NHL.com, Carter has tested positive. Both players are currently asymptomatic.

The Penguins have a few days before they have to play, giving time for either or both to post negative tests and get them out of the protocol. The team will travel to face the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday as it tries to continue what has been a relatively successful start. Pittsburgh has yet to lose in regulation, drawing six of a possible eight points through their first four games. That’s good enough for first in the Metropolitan Division.

If Carter is out Saturday, the team will be without their top three centers as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will also be unable to participate. Though Crosby is getting closer, Sullivan confirmed that he would not play on Saturday night. The team is also without Bryan Rust, meaning it’ll be a very different lineup than expected when the Maple Leafs faceoff against the Penguins for the first time since the 2019-20 season.