cassius
Registered User
- Jul 23, 2004
- 13,560
- 706
I know some folks have soured on Murray in recent years, but I would push back against that sentiment.
Look - I get that this is a "what have you done for me lately" type of league, but let's not forget the following..
- Matt Murray won 2 Stanley cups in his first 2 seasons as a pro
- Matt Murray is #14 all time in terms of playoff sv % (0.923)
- Matt Murray's playoff GAA (2.08) is #6th all time in the modern NHL area (trailing guys like Hasek, Brodeur)
- Perhaps the most critical point.. Matt Murray emergence jettisoned a headcase goalie from the Pens franchise, which coincided with 2 stanley cups victories and many clutch victories down the stretch and ended years of choking
- The guy is only 24 years old with tons of hockey ahead of him
Look - I get that he has had a rough past year or so, but let's not forget that the guy is still young and has already done amazing things in his career. He is capable of doing even more going forward, as he showed last night against the Caps.
I think we can all agree that Murray plays his best hockey in big pressure situations such as the Stanley Cup playoffs, unlike Fleury. Some players are choke artists and some are winners. Matt Murray is firmly in the latter category.
It's no coincidence that the Penguins didn't go far in the playoffs when their goaltending was weak (Fleury years)... and they won 2 Stanley cups in a row when their goaltending was strong (Murray years).
My take is that Murray will determine how far the Pens go this season. If he can get back to his previous level of performance, I think the Pens are a serious contender to win the cup. However, if he falters or has another off year, I do think the Pens are in for an early playoff exit in either the 1st or the 2nd round.
Long story short: the success of the Pens rests squarely on the shoulders of Murray
Look - I get that this is a "what have you done for me lately" type of league, but let's not forget the following..
- Matt Murray won 2 Stanley cups in his first 2 seasons as a pro
- Matt Murray is #14 all time in terms of playoff sv % (0.923)
- Matt Murray's playoff GAA (2.08) is #6th all time in the modern NHL area (trailing guys like Hasek, Brodeur)
- Perhaps the most critical point.. Matt Murray emergence jettisoned a headcase goalie from the Pens franchise, which coincided with 2 stanley cups victories and many clutch victories down the stretch and ended years of choking
- The guy is only 24 years old with tons of hockey ahead of him
Look - I get that he has had a rough past year or so, but let's not forget that the guy is still young and has already done amazing things in his career. He is capable of doing even more going forward, as he showed last night against the Caps.
I think we can all agree that Murray plays his best hockey in big pressure situations such as the Stanley Cup playoffs, unlike Fleury. Some players are choke artists and some are winners. Matt Murray is firmly in the latter category.
It's no coincidence that the Penguins didn't go far in the playoffs when their goaltending was weak (Fleury years)... and they won 2 Stanley cups in a row when their goaltending was strong (Murray years).
My take is that Murray will determine how far the Pens go this season. If he can get back to his previous level of performance, I think the Pens are a serious contender to win the cup. However, if he falters or has another off year, I do think the Pens are in for an early playoff exit in either the 1st or the 2nd round.
Long story short: the success of the Pens rests squarely on the shoulders of Murray
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