NHL Playoffs: Pittsburgh Penguins will start Marc-Andre Fleury in Game 5

After Matt Murray was pulled in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Penguins will go with Marc-Andre Fleury in goal in Game 5.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are going with a very bold lineup change in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Rookie goaltender Matt Murray was pulled in Game 4 after allowing four goals in the first 40 minutes. Murray has carried the team into the Eastern Conference Finals and to that point, had arguably been their best player. However, with the Penguins’ backs against the wall and a healthy Marc-Andre Fleury looming in the background, Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan has confirmed that Fleury will start Game 5.

Fleury came in to relieve Murray in Game 4 and did very well in the third period as the Penguins almost managed to make a comeback but fell just short, losing 4-3. Murray has been great for the Penguins but he has allowed roughly three goals a game in the playoffs since Game 4 of Pittsburgh’s second round series against the Washington Capitals. Perhaps a change in net will do the Penguins some good. Fleury played a huge role in the Penguins’ Stanley Cup run in 2008-09 and he could easily play a huge role for them against this postseason.

It’s not that Murray hasn’t played well, because he certainly has. The primary reason for the change probably has to do with Fleury’s resume and how the team played much better in front of him. Perhaps it wakes the team up after a lazy effort for most of Game 4. They can always go back to Murray if Fleury falters.

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