Striking Gold by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Author:Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Triumph Books
Published: 2016-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

Matt Murray keeps his eye on the play during the Penguins’ 6-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on April 3. (Michael Henninger/Post-Gazette)

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Goalie

MATT MURRAY

21-Year-Old Rookie Does Not Lack in Confidence, Competitiveness

By Sam Werner • May 13, 2016

When Matt Murray took the ice for his first NHL practice in December, the rookie goaltender was surrounded by a team full of Stanley Cup champions and two former Hart Trophy winners in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Murray, 21, quickly let all of them know he wasn’t intimidated.

“When he was first called up first, up here, he’s jamming at guys’ feet, whacking at rebounds,” defenseman Ian Cole said. “It doesn’t matter who it is … he’s whacking at guys, trying to clear them out of the crease.”

But that competitiveness has fueled Murray’s rapid rise in the NHL, where he has emerged as a star between the pipes for the Penguins. He is likely to start in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Consol Energy Center.

Whether it’s in practice or in overtime against the Washington Capitals, the best team in the NHL in the regular season, Murray does not believe any pucks should get past him.

“That’s what makes him so good,” Penguins goalie Jeff Zatkoff said. “It doesn’t matter how it goes in, he doesn’t think he should be scored on.”

The mindset isn’t new for Murray, either. Former NHL winger Lonny Bohonos coached Murray’s bantam team for two years in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Murray’s hometown.

He recalled a 14-year-old Murray working to prevent every goal he could in practices.

“I think he had that rapport with some of the players,” Bohonos said. “If they scored on him, they were pumped.”

Bohonos was just getting into coaching when he worked with Murray, so he didn’t know what a future NHL goalie looked like as a teenager. But he saw the work ethic and confidence that would serve Murray well down the road.

“Looking back now, am I surprised? By no means,” Bohonos said. “No, I’m not. He was good.”

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