PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It would have to be a special player for the Pens to get the walk-up they did, a sellout at the arena on Sunday to watch goalie Sergei Murashov’s debut. There were positives, but ultimately a 3-2 loss to the Kings.
“I thought he played well,” said Pens head coach Dan Muse as Murashov stopped 24 shots. “He had to come up with some big saves for us. That first goal was kind of a weird bounce, but I thought he played well. He gave us a chance. That’s what we need from our goaltenders.”
The first goal, a shot along the goal line was tipped by Pens defenseman Parker Wotherspoon and it deflected in. The second, Murashov was partially screened on the Corey Perry goal.
Murashov said, ultimately it’s not what he or the team wanted, which was two points. He called his first NHL game ‘a good lesson’.
“First couple of minutes I was trying to get used to the speed, but after I felt I was doing my thing, stopping the puck,” the 21-year-old Russian said. “Didn’t think about anything.”
He credited his preparation all offseason, through the preseason and in the AHL this year, where he went 12-3 with a 2.64 goals-against average and .913 save percentage and included a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins record 10-game winning streak.
The majority of the young Pens goalies who made their debuts this century had similar results.
Marc-Andre Fleury
· October 10, 2003, Loss, 3-0 Detroit, 46 saves
Matt Murray
· December 19, 2015, Loss, 2-1 Carolina, 24 saves
Tristan Jarry
· April 9, 2017, Loss, 3-2 at Rangers, 22 saves
Joel Blomqvist
· October 10, 2024, Win, 6-3 at Detroit, 29 saves
“Unbelievable goalie,” said forward Bryan Rust. “He made some big saves for us. We got to be a little better in front of him.”
“He’s so good,” said forward Tommy Novak. “You tell just from watching him practice. It’s cool to be a part of his debut. I’m no goalie expert, but there is not much not to like there. So athletic and so poised, impressive young goalie. I’m sure you all will be watching him for a long time.”
A sellout crowd watched him Sunday.
“Fans were really supportive, I felt it,” Murashov said. “I truly appreciate it, everyone who came to the building instead of watching the Steelers. I know there is a game today.”
While the Steelers game is at night, it doesn’t minimize over 18,000 fans for a Sunday afternoon game.
“Definitely it’s a great building, great city, great people here,” Murashov said. “I truly appreciate that.”
Pens travel to Sweden where it will play Nashville in games Friday and Sunday.