The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Matt Murray made an incredible 47 saves Monday night to lead the Penguins to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals in Game 3.
A recent call up from the AHL, the 21-year-old rookie has been a rock solid, unflappable presence in net for the Penguins since he took over the starting spot in Game 3 against the New York Rangers. The Penguins dispatched the Rangers in five games and have 2-1 lead over the Capitals heading into Game 4 Wednesday night.
Here are six things you probably don’t know about the the Penguins new star netminder.
1. MURRAY IS A BIG FAN OF CAPITALS GOALIE BRADEN HOLTBY
Holtby and Murray have at least one important fact in common. Like Murray, Holtby announced his presence in the NHL in a big way during the Stanley Cup Playoffs a few years ago.
“He’s had a phenomenal season and he’s one of my favorite guys to watch,” Murray told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I like how he competes, to be honest. He’s obviously pretty quick. I like how aggressive he plays.”
2. HE STILL GETS A LITTLE STAR STRUCK
Before stepping up big for the Penguins in the playoffs, Murray had only taken the ice 13 times in the regular season and admitted to getting star struck.
“Every game has been memorable, to be honest,” Murray told the Washington Post. “I only played 13 games in the regular season, I think, so I remember each one vividly.”
3. MURRAY LIKES TO PLAY WITH A NEW GLOVE
When he made his playoff debut at Madison Square Garden in Game 3, he was using a brand new glove. Most goalies like to break in their new equipment before stepping into big games, but Murray apparently doesn’t have problem with it.
“I can wear them right out of the box,” Murray told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I like them when they’re new.”
4. HE’S ALREADY HAS HIS FIRST NHL SHUTOUT
Murray shut the door on the New York Islanders in a 5-0 win on April 2, in what his ninth appearance in an NHL game.
5. THERE’S NO HARD FEELINGS BETWEEN MARC-ANDRE FLEURY AND MURRAY
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Murray has been filling in while the Penguins usual starter battles a concussion. Fleury was cleared to play Monday night, but it’s a good bet the Penguins will stick with their hot new rookie for a little longer, but there doesn’t seem to be any ill will between the goalies,according to WPIX.
Fleury has proven a vital resource for Murray as he deals with the transition from the minor leagues to the spotlight.
When Murray struggled in the first period against Buffalo late in the regular season, giving up three goals on a handful of shots, Fleury walked over to him during the intermission and faked brushing dirt off Murray’s shoulders, his own way of telling Murray to shake it off.
6. PEOPLE THOUGHT MURRAY WOULDN’T MAKE IT IN THE NHL
There was a difficult period in Murray’s life where many scouts and coaches thought he wouldn’t make it past the junior hockey level.
Via Sportsnet:
“A lot of people were pretty down on him, there were a lot of naysayers,” Jon Elkin, Murray’s longtime goaltending instructor, told Sportsnet. “In fact, probably most of the league. No one really thought he’d amount to much. As a 15- and 16-year-old going into the OHL, he was quite a big prospect. He was pretty good in minor midget.“When he hit the ‘O’ for some reason he struggled quite a bit.”
But that’s in the past. Murray was able to find his game and has stuck with it, staking his claim on the Penguins net.
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