Penguins rookie goaltender Sergei Murashov got philosophical after making his first start of the season in Monday’s 3-2 loss to the visiting Winnipeg Jets.
“There’s a saying in Russian, ‘Morning is wiser than evening,’” Murashov told reporters after the game. “So, just take a good sleep, rest, and calmly think about that tomorrow, so we can get better from this game.”
When about adjusting from playing most of last season in the AHL to starting this season in Pittsburgh, Murashov said, “Well, puck is the same
size, net is the same size.”
The Penguins’ hopes of having Murashov as a full-time NHL option this season may have been bolstered by his performance Monday night.
The team took a 1-0 lead on a Ben Kindel goal early in the second period in large part because of Murashov’s efforts to save Pittsburgh from paying for their defensive lapses in the first part of the game.
That included a stretch where the Penguins were outshot 9-1 in the final six minutes of the first period.
“I thought that we were not on point and he made some huge saves to weather some storms there,” Muse told reporters in his postgame press conference.
Murashov showed off his athleticism during that early stretch of the game by lunging across the crease for some Marc-Andre Fleury-esque saves.
Murashov finished out his season debut having stopped 31 of 34 shots against. The first two Jets goals ricocheted off Penguins defenders in front of the net shortly before going in. Cole Perfetti then beat Murashov on a one-timer for the game winner.
Multiple Penguins players credited Murashov with keeping his team in the game long enough to pull the goalie and launch a final 6-on-5 attack in the closing seconds.
“He kept us in it all night,” Declan Carlile said.
Ben Kindel said, “He kept us in the game. It’s always reassuring to have a guy that’s going to battle for you and keep you in the game no matter what.”
Murashov already proved he can shine at the AHL level, where he recorded a dominant 2.20 GAA and .919 save percentage last season. The Penguins will hope Monday’s performance is the first step toward replicating that success at the next level.
This likely won’t be the last game this week in which Murashov sees playing time. After playing in the Washington Capitals’ home opener this Wednesday, the Penguins are scheduled for a back-to-back at the Columbus Blue Jackets and against the visiting Dallas Stars.
Murashov will be expected to start either Friday in Columbus or at home this Saturday as Dan Muse works on splitting the workload between Arturs Silovs and who the Penguins are seemingly hoping will be their goaltender of the future.
