I started to respond to a reply our good friend Rick Buker wrote to my post grading the Penguins‘ Goalies regarding Matt Murray. Rick echoed a similar sentiment first voiced by our own Phil Krundle. However, it morphed into the following;
Rick wrote of Murray, “Yet he did seem to develop a nagging tendency to give up goals at precisely the wrong time. Someone mentioned that his save percentage when we held the lead in the playoffs was .000”
It is interesting how urban legends get started, someone says something and no one really checks to see how true that statement was, so that whatever was said starts to become fact in the collective memory. In today’s’ day and age, no doubt due to an effort to satisfy geeks like me, all sports, hockey included, are tracked in every possible way, so that we geeks can analyze and over-analyze to our hearts content. This afforded a Murray fan like me the opportunity to check the veracity of that anecdotal observation. So I did. I went back on the NHL channel to look at the play-by-play stats from the Penguins’ playoff games.
(I realize that these were off the cuff remarks and not really something, to which, I want to hold either Rick or Phil. I have heard others make similar statements.
After Erik Gudbranson’s opening goal in game 2
Devon Toews had a wrist shot blocked by Jack Johnson.
Brock Nelson took a 28′ wrist shot that Murray stopped.
Jordan Eberle followed that up seconds later with a 16′ wrist shot that missed the net.
Nick Leddy had his shot blocked by Phil Kessel.
Matthew Brazal had a 10′ tip-in shot stopped by Murray before Anthony Beauviller found a way to beat the beleaguered Murray.
The Islanders had 6 shot attempts 3 of which (half) made it on net, between goals. In that same time span our locals only managed 2 shot attempts, both by Bryan Rust.
That letdown looks to me as more of a team let down than a goalie let down. Yes it would have been great if Murray was super human but he had no support. Before we talk about Murray, we should be talking about why the Islanders controlled the play that much.
After Garret Wilson‘s opening goal in game 3
Sidney Crosby lost the ensuing face off
9s later Eberle took an 11′ wrist shot that Murray stopped and froze
Crosby then lost the defensive draw to Anders Lee
9s later Adam Pelech took a wrist shot that Brian Dumoulin blocked
8s later Eberle beat Murray with a 24′ wrist shot
Again before Murray ceded the tying goal the Isles had 3 shot attempts, 1 on goal, while Crosby lost 2 very important draws.
I am not getting down on Crosby, just pointing out that Murray haters see what they want to see, ignoring all the other breakdowns that led up to the goal
After Jake Guentzel‘s opening goal in game 3
Evgeni Malkin won the faceoff this time, actually won 2 NZ face offs (an offsides)
Tom Kuhnhackl missed the net on 31′ wrist shot.
Then the 2 teams exchange 4 hits
Nick Bjugstad got off a shot for the good guys
and then Eberle scored on a 17′ wrist shot.
Admittedly, we have seen Murray make those saves on 2 on 1 s like Eberle and I would have loved to see Murray stay focused unlike the rest of his team that had been just going through the motions for at least 3 games already, for a coach they had no respect. (despite what they may say publicly actions speak louder than words)
To sum it up, during the brief time our Penguins had the lead New York had 11 shot attempts of which 6 made it on goal in a 4 min and 52 second span of time. Murray didn’t have a great save percentage (50%) but it certainly was higher than 0.00. And what is more projecting those 11 shot attempts and 6 shots on goal out to 60 minutes, Murray would have faced 136 attempts with 74 shots on goal in a regulation game. This sweep wasn’t on the Goalie. The team let the Goalie down.
Maybe, had Murray made saves on those 3 goals, the Penguins may have won. But then again, with the way the team in front of him was getting out played when they were ahead, he may have only delayed the inevitable. He may have had to face those 136 shot attempts and 74 shots on goal in one game only to still lose.
Hey Phil,
After Eberle scored the opening goal, the 1st Penguin shot took 26s but was an excuse me shot from 63 feet. The first Penguin real shot came nearly 2 minutes (5s shy) later when Hornqvist got off a 15′ shot. 4 min and 2 sec later the Penguins did score on their 4th shot on 6 attempts compared to the 11 shot attempts and 6 shots in 4:52 of time the Penguins led.
After Brock Nelson gave the lead back to the Isles, it took the Penguins nearly a full minute to get their 1st shot on goal (50s) taken by Schultz from 27 feet. The next shot after that didn’t come for another 1:25 on a 30′ Simon shot.
After LEddy gave the Isles the lead back, it took the Pens nearly 3 minutes (9s Short) on 28′ shot from Bjugstad.
The Isles insulated their goalie when they gave him the lead, they didn’t just open the flood gates.
No 3 goals on 6 shots is not great but giving up 11 shot attempts and 6 shots on goal in 4 minutes is far, far worse!
tOR,
Got it. Murray let in 3 goals on 6 shots when the Pens had the lead. A .500 sv%.
Here’s what I said that started this. “I didn’t look up the stats, but was Matt Murray’s save percentage 0% when the Penguins had the lead? If it wasn’t it had to be very close. ”
I feel that I wasn’t that far off considering Murray only made three total saves when the Penguins had the lead at 3 different times during the series.
You said that I have “negative blinders when it comes to Murray” but you just had a big spiel trying to defend Murray only making 3 saves by using shots over 60 minutes and every other way possible to shine that turd of a performance.
I take my negative blinders and raise your positive blinders.
Every team comes back guns a blazing in the playoffs when they get down a goal. Lehner made those saves. If Murray would have made saves and let the Pens have a lead for any substantial amount of time at any point during the playoffs this conversation doesn’t happen.
I hope Rutherford and the Penguins aren’t stupid with their money this off-season.
The Other Rick / Phil
I’m not sure if and when he let the goals in but to me he allowed way
to many momentum changing goals. Not sure if we were behind or
ahead at that particular moment – to many of them just happen at a
crucial time of the game. I call them swing goals and in my opinion
he’s notorious for letting those hit the back of the net.
Not a Murray hater –
Mike,
I agree with you in many areas, and as I said above, I would have loved to see Murray make some incredible saves to hold the lead but in the case of Murray we diverge. Canada, views Murray as their teams starter in the upcoming tournament. Like that country, I don’t see a better option on the horizon. Furthermore before I start complaining about Murray letting in those go ahead goals I am going to hold Crosby and all of the players that failed to tightened down their Defense after the team got the lead.
Look at the time frames I noted above, as the series progressed and with every lead the Penguins got, the team in front of Murray gave up a shot on goal faster and faster. Long before Murray gave up a goal, the players in front of him quit. At some point, no matter how hard a goalie may try and focus, they can’t help but notice the lack of support they are getting.
The team in front of Murray quit long before Murray did. So, I will not be a hypocrite and single Murray out when Crosby lost 2 faceoffs that lead to 2 shots and one goal. I will not complain about the goalie until I see the team in front of him play.
On the other hand, again look at the time frames I cited above, after each time the Isles gained the lead in game one it took longer and longer for the Penguins to get their 1st shot after the Isles took the lead. he Isles shut down the Pens skaters harder and harder. They Skaters wanted the win more. They believed in their team and their coach. They did not leave their goalie hung out to dry.