It’s the white elephant in the locker room. One that simply won’t go away.
Who should start in goal for the Penguins in Game Five, incumbent Matt Murray or veteran Marc-Andre Fleury?
Pens coach Mike Sullivan went to great lengths to absolve Murray of any blame for his team’s recent losses in Nashville.
“We haven’t lost games because of our goaltending,” Sullivan said via conference call on Tuesday. “I thought last night was a case where we felt as though Matt had a solid game, but Pekka Rinne had a tremendous game. I thought maybe early in the series, you could point in the other direction.”
However, Sully stopped short of announcing Murray as his starter for the pivotal Game Five in the ‘Burgh on Thursday night.
Could he be contemplating a switch?
My guess is yes.
To reiterate, despite yielding eight goals in the past two games, Murray’s hardly been a sieve. He still boasts a 2.08 goals against average and a .925 save percentage for the playoffs—highly respectable numbers. And every goalie hits a rough patch once in a while. Before rebounding in Nashville, Rinne leaked for eight goals on 36 shots in Games One and Two.
Still, there are reasons to consider a change. For one, the Preds seem to have figured Murray out. They’ve beaten the kid to the glove side—a perceived weakness—on eight of their past 10 goals against him. While “Muzz” certainly hasn’t been atrocious, his numbers in the Final—a 3.01 GAA and .902 SV%—are hardly inspired.
Changing goalies at this stage is a risk, no doubt. As a rule, the Pens play a more settled game in front of Murray, as evidenced by the 27.5 shots on goal allowed per 60 minutes versus 33.9 with Fleury. That’s an awful lot of flying rubber.
With his calmer, stickier style, Murray’s easier for his teammates to read than the frenetic, acrobatic Fleury.
Yet a different look in net might force the Preds to reset. Perhaps knock them out of their groove, too.
For the record, Fleury’s performed quite well against Nashville over the course of his 13-year NHL career. In 13 regular-season appearances, “Flower’s” posted an 8-4-1 record, to go with a glittering 2.18 GAA and .918 SV%.
It’s not as if Fleury was stinking out the place when Sullivan switched to Murray. A disastrous outing in Game Three of the Conference Final aside, he’d posted shutouts in two of his previous three contests. Hard to do much better than that.
In fact, it probably wasn’t Fleury’s performance that led to his benching in the first place, but a need for Sullivan to get his weary, banged-up troops to refocus. What better way to accomplish that task than to switch goaltenders—especially when you have an option capable as Murray waiting in the wings.
Now we’re in similar straits, albeit with the roles reversed. It’s no secret the Pens struggled mightily in Games Three and Four. They’re badly in need of a spark, an emotional lift.
I can’t imagine anything that would stir the troops—and set the crowd ablaze—more than the sight of No. 29 standing in front the Pens’ net, head bowed, during the national anthem. I can just hear the familiar chant echoing through PPG Paints Arena.
Fleury, Fleury, Fleury.
The joint would be rockin.’
There’s one more reason to make the switch, and it has nothing to do with numbers. Fleury’s time here is, no doubt, short. He’s endured so much during his roller coaster ride in the Steel City, all the while endearing himself to teammates and fans alike. He’s experienced truly dizzying highs and equally crushing lows. None more painful, I’m sure, than watching his friends win a Stanley Cup without him last spring.
You can see it in his eyes when the camera pans to him on the Penguins’ bench. Fleury wants to win…and play a pivotal role…so badly, it’s practically burning a hole through him.
Passion. Hunger. Fire.
Those are traits we sorely need if we’re to repeat as Cup champions.
There’s a time to put your heart above your head.
Call me a softie, a sentimental sap. I go with Fleury in Game Five.
Hey all,
Just a quick follow-up. Sullivan named Murray as his starter for Game Five.
GO PENS!
Rick
Murray has an exposed weak goal hand side it’s a proven fact. Got to go with the Flower!!
Tough call… flower got us to the finals…..
I think Murray should start but I do think Sullivan should have pulled Murray to show the team that they needed to wake up. If that was fleury he would have pulled him in a heartbeat. Wasn’t all Murrays fault BUT they needed a wake up call and he should have been pulled.
There is a goalie and 5 teammates on the ice representing a TEAM! Need pucks to net, points, sharp quick skating, on spot passes and stop giving away the puck! I know it’s a lot to ask but Let’s go Pens!
MAF
Hey Guys and Gals,
The more the merrier they say. Welcome all. 🙂
It was posted that Bonino did not practice today. I forgot about the
extra travel day so we play tomorrow. We certainly need the extra time
to rest the injured. As good as Crosby and Malkin are, we need Nick Bonino
and Matt Cullen just as much.Their defensive contributions and timely face
off wins are also very important for us to lift another Cup this year. I hope
Bones can recover and play tomorrow night for I feel better when he is in
the line up.
Great comments from all of you…. Keep it up…
Let’s go Pen’s.
You have to put Maurry back in there the two losses we have faced were not his fault it was the fault of our defense being old beating up and slow or young dumb afraid to make choices with the puck . the Wingers nor the center are coming back to help out the two defenseman who are being pressured heavily by the Predators. get the puck out of the zone
It’s not the goalie I’m worried about! How about a little more offense and a crap ton more shots on goal??? It’s their goalie that is the problem!
If the Pens want the cup they need Fleury.
Hey all,
In days gone by, when armies massed their troops and used Napoleonic tactics, soldiers would rally around the flag during the heat of battle.
In similar fashion, I think the Pens would rally ’round Fleury. I think going to him would provide an extra shot of adrenalin and motivation that perhaps the guys are struggling to find within themselves. Kind of like “win one for the Gipper”… except it would be “win the Cup for Flower.”
He’s that beloved by his teammates.
I truly think his presence in goal could make the difference between winning and losing the Cup.
Rick
Hell.. I like this crowd
FLEURY. FLEURY. FLEURY.
Personally I love Flower and would want to see him start. However Murray is clearly there future and they really don’t want to have Flower when the cup and then say byeeee.
BUT that all said, 2 goals scored in 2 games. Odds are its hard to win no matter who’s in net.
Maybe we should look past the goalie dual and look at the defense and offensive play of the 20 skaters.
It’s there where the team need’s to step their game up.
~Skate don’t glide
~Skate to the puck stop waiting for it
~Make tape to tape passes stop forcing it
~Always send help in the corner
~Kunitz, Guentlez, Hagelin, Hornqvist, Cullen etc you earn your contracts in front of the net, screen the goalie
~ God sake shoot the puck 14″- 44″ off the ice
Time to bring your A+ gm boy’s, how bad do you want to raise Lord Stanley’s Cup back to back year’s!!
Fleury Fleury Fleury
If Flower let in 8 goals in 2 games he would have been yanked in a NY minute. If Nashville has Murray’s number then game 5 is clearly the time to try a goalie change before the Pens collective backs are against the wall.
Absolutely 100% correct Michelle.
MAF last game in Pittsburgh and it will be a memorable one at that.
No better way to finish off his amazing career than in front of his home fans
with so much at stake for our team !
We have posted several times through out the season the reality of
our coming Cap crisis situation and the Vegas expansion draft and what it
means to the team next year. We all know it, but we just want to get thru these next 3 games and enjoy the moment. Thanks for posting.
Cheers
Flower Flower Flower Flower Flower Flower Flower
Flower flower flower
Flurry
I don’t always want a goalie change but when I do I want Marc-Andre Fleury. Let’s Go Pens!
Fleury!
Fleury
I think Fleury has had enough time on the bench..he should start.
I want the Flower, but I bet Murray goes in.
Fleury! Fleury! Fleury!
#29. Flower
Don’t care as long as we win
no because Murray will always be Sullivans golden boy.
#29
Flower
#29
I agree. #29.
That makes two of us Rick.!!
Three is you count 55’s comments last night.
Seems so funny that we were two of his biggest
detractors for various reasons, but mainly Cap Space
and here we are now agreeing about his return.
Funny, eh ??