Goalie Louis Domingue now in Rangers colors on taxi squad
Rangers goaltender Louis Domingue looks during training camp in Greenburgh, N.Y. on Sept. 23, 2022. Credit: Errol Anderson
NEWARK – A year ago, Louis Domingue came out of the bullpen at Madison Square Garden in the second overtime to backstop the Pittsburgh Penguins to a triple-OT win over the Rangers in Game 1 of the teams’ first-round playoff series. On Thursday, the goaltender was wearing Rangers colors, and working with the taxi squad as the Rangers played Game 2 of their first-round series against the Devils at Prudential Center.
Was it a bit strange for him?
“I don't think I looked too much into this,’’ Domingue said after the Rangers’ morning skate Thursday. “If you can't beat them, join them kind of thing, you know? They offered me a good opportunity, so I had to take it.’’
Penguins goaltender Louis Domingue in net in Game 6 of an NHL Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Rangers in Pittsburgh on May 13, 2022. Credit: Gene J. Puskar
Domingue, who famously had ordered a dinner of spicy pork and broccoli from a local restaurant before that playoff game, was the third-string goalie for the Penguins, but was forced to dress as backup to backup Casey DeSmith, who started because of an injury to No. 1 goalie Tristan Jarry. And when DeSmith pulled himself because of an injury, Domingue had to enter the game.
After the season, the Rangers signed Domingue to a two-year, one-way contract to be their third goalie. He spent the season in Hartford with the Rangers’ AHL affiliate.
“It was one of those years where I didn't get a chance to play [in the NHL],’’ he said. “The goalies [Igor Shesterkin and Jaroslav Halak] were healthy. So it's good on the organization. But I knew what was going to happen coming in.’’
Domingue did what the Rangers needed from him. He played in 45 games for Hartford and went 22-12-8 with a 2.51 goals-against average and .911 save percentage while serving as mentor to rookie Dylan Garand.
“At the end there, we had a good push, and we made the playoffs, which is something they haven't done in a while (in Hartford),’’ he said. “So I think you can say mission accomplished.’’
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
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