NHL Playoffs: Penguins make right decision sticking with Matt Murray

Despite a rough game in Game 1 against the Lightning the Penguins will be sticking with rookie goaltender Matt Murray in Game 2. 

The Pittsburgh Penguins lost Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1. It was the third straight playoff game that rookie goaltender Matt Murray allowed three or more goals. Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan erased any chance of their being a goalie controversy despite a healthy Marc-Andre Fleury, who was the starter before Murray, lurking in the background.

Sticking with Murray is a mature decision and the correct one. While Murray has allowed at least three goals in each of his past three games, very few of them were actually on him. The Penguins did not play well defensively against the Lightning. Tampa Bay capitalized on their mistakes. Murray is a very special goaltender and he’s most likely their Conn Smythe favorite. The rookie goaltender has shown impressive maturity and so has his coach.

Once the Penguins go with Fleury, it would be extremely difficult for them to go back. For one thing, as great as Fleury was this season for the Penguins, he would be coming in relatively cold, having not played since March 31 as he was sidelined after suffering his second concussion of the season; a third one could be quite crippling.

Also, Murray has the confidence of his team. He’s a huge reason why they are in the Eastern Conference Finals to begin with. Fleury is a great goaltender and it must be tempting for Sullivan to go to a proven guy like him but his decision to stick with the guy who’s gotten his team to where they are right now is the right decision.

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