Penguins Update: Murray on the Rebound?

This piece started as a comment to my previous post. However, the more I began to write, the more it morphed into a full-blown article.

As our faithful PenguinPoop readers are aware, I’ve been very critical of Penguins goaltender Matt Murray this season. I’ve documented on numerous occasions his disturbing penchant for yielding back-breaking goals at critical times. To my eye, he’s appeared slow and tentative…perhaps even a bit timid in goal.

Well, if I’m going to be hyper-critical, I also need to give him his due.

I thought No. 30 looked like a different goalie Friday night during the Pens’ 2-1 victory over Detroit. Or should I say, the old Matt Murray. He seemed quicker, more decisive and more confident, moving to the top of the crease to challenge shooters instead of playing deep in his net.

Mike Sullivan noticed, too.

“It appears to me like he’s just seeing it,” the Pens coach told Seth Rorabaugh of the Tribune-Review. “When Matt’s at his best, he makes difficult saves look routine. I think it’s because of his ability to read plays. He squares up to the puck. His depth in the crease is really good. Pucks tend to hit him or they miss the net because of his depth in the crease whether he’s at the top of the paint or he’s in the middle of the paint or whether he’s going to play deeper if there’s a backdoor option or whatever it may be. He’s making good reads. He’s tracking the puck well. He’s finding the puck through the traffic. And he’s swallowing pucks so that next-play opportunity isn’t there for our opponents.”

Other Rick thinks Murray’s figured out how to protect the short side, which was giving him fits. Freeing him to play a more aggressive style.

Whatever the adjustment, it’s worked. Resembling the lion emblazoned on the back plate of his goalie mask, Murray accomplished something he’s so rarely achieved since the beginning of November…he kept his team in the game and perhaps even stole a win.

Granted, it was the lowly Red Wings he faced down and not the Capitals. But make no mistake…this was a critical win that prevented the black and gold from slipping into a mini-slump. Murray made numerous key stops (28 saves in all) and definitely deserved the No. 1 star.

Speaking of No. 1, it’ll be interesting to see who Sullivan starts for today’s matinee match-up with Boston. I’m guessing he’ll come back with Murray, although Tristan Jarry might be the wiser choice due to his superior puckhandling…better to diffuse the Bruins’ smothering forecheck and high-octane attack.

I guess we’ll see.

For the record, Murray’s been the hotter of the two goalies of late. Over his past four starts dating back to January 4…all of them wins…he’s stopped 126 of 136 shots for a save percentage of .926. His goals against, a tidy 2.44.

Meanwhile, some of the luster’s worn off Jarry’s game. After earning NHL Second Star honors in December, he’s allowed 18 goals over his past six starts for a goals against average of 2.96, while compiling a record of 3-2-1. His save percentage, a pedestrian .903 in the New Year, caused him to lose his grip on the league lead.

Still, having two goalies playing at or near the top of their game bodes well for the Pens. Especially given the difficulty of their second-half schedule, which is loaded with key Metro Division match-ups. And a little internal competition never hurts…especially with Murray and Jarry both in the final seasons of their respective contracts.

A win-win situation.

Wilting Flower

Speaking of goalies, it’s interesting to note that Marc-Andre Fleury’s having his problems in Vegas. In fact, his season has mirrored Murray’s…almost eerily so.

Following a strong start, “Flower’s” save percentage has plummeted to .906 while his goals against average has soared to an unsightly 2.85. His quality starts percentage, a poor .471, sits just a tick above Murray’s .462.

Unlike Murray, it isn’t hard to pinpoint a reason for Fleury’s struggles. His father, Andre, passed away on November 27, a day before Marc-Andre’s 35th birthday and a short time after Flower authored his mind-blowing “Save of the Century” against Toronto on November 21.

Since returning from a leave of absence in early December, Fleury’s posted a hideous .889 save percentage to go with a bloated 3.26 goals against. Perfectly understandable given the magnitude of his loss.

Murray experienced similar struggles when his father passed away a couple of years before. It took him a while to rebound. Let’s hope Fleury’s able to bounce back, too.

Our thoughts and prayers go with him.