Murray backstops Penguins to second straight championship
The Stanley Cup is returning to Thunder Bay this summer.
Still technically considered an NHL rookie, 23-year-old Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds graduate Matt Murray is a champion once again, hoisting the Stanley Cup for the second time in as many years despite having not yet reached the 100-game plateau on his young career.
Rookie status, two #StanleyCup victories for @mattmurray_30. pic.twitter.com/B4nMFiSmHD
— NHL (@NHL) June 12, 2017
The 6-foot-4 netminder overcame an injury sustained early in the postseason, taking over for goaltending partner Marc-Andre Fleury in the Eastern Conference Final to go 7-3 with a 1.70 goals-against average, a .937 save percentage and three shutouts in 11 games.
Murray capped things off with a 27-save shutout performance in Sunday’s 2-0 Game 6 win in Nashville to crown the Penguins as the first back-to-back Stanley Cup champions since thine 1997 and 1998 Detroit Red Wings.
Denied. pic.twitter.com/AYdlNAH8SV
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) June 12, 2017
“We didn’t let the fact that we didn’t score all game get us down and we stuck to our game plan and were able to get a late one,” he said during post-game celebrations. “It says a lot about the character of our team and I’m so proud and so honoured to be a part of this team to get this done here back-to-back.”
Murray posted a 79-60-4-10 regular season record over four seasons with Sault Ste. Marie from 2010-14, setting a franchise record with six shutouts in his final campaign. Upon turning pro, the big butterfly netminder had a season to remember with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2014-15, receiving the Baz Bastien Memorial Award as the league’s top goaltender as he registered a league-leading 1.58 goals-against average, a .941 save percentage and 12 shutouts, setting a new AHL record with a 304 minute shutout streak in the process.
Murray’s AHL accolades were just the tip of the iceberg as he joined Ken Dryden (1971 Montreal Canadiens), Patrick Roy (1986 Montreal Canadiens) and Cam Ward (2006 Carolina Hurricanes) as the fourth rookie starting goaltender to hoist the Stanley Cup in San Jose last spring as the Penguins defeated the Sharks in six games.
Matt Murray of the @penguins is only goalie in NHL history to win the #StanleyCup-clinching game in each of his first two seasons. pic.twitter.com/PjQdb0kRdA
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 12, 2017
Fast forward a year and Murray is a champion once again, backstopping Pittsburgh to a 4-2 series win over the Nashville Predators to give the franchise its fifth Stanley Cup title.
He was solid throughout the series, helping the Pens take a 2-0 series lead on home ice despite being outshot 64-39 over Games 1 and 2. His consecutive shutouts in Games 5 and 6 make him the first goaltender since Detroit’s Terry Sawchuk in 1952 to close out a Stanley Cup Final with back-to-back blankings.
#Pens Matt Murray becomes the first goalie with a shutout in each of the last 2 games of the #StanleyCup Final since Terry Sawchuk in 1952. pic.twitter.com/LTnTwG8wPF
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) June 12, 2017
“Last year it was pretty special being my first run and first real time going around the NHL,” he reflected. “This year for different reasons I think. I went through some injuries and some adversity and I think I was able to come back not only quickly, but stronger than before. A big thank you to our staff for helping me out there.”
Murray’s most cherished moment came when goaltending partner Marc-Andre Fleury opted to break from tradition and pass him, a much younger teammate, the Stanley Cup in post-game celebrations.
Matt Murray credits Marc-Andre Fleury with getting the Penguins to the #StanleyCup Final in the first place pic.twitter.com/8f9A8iDvxs
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 12, 2017
“Flower (Fleury) is the biggest reason why we even got here,” Murray noted. “He’s been a special person for me, a huge mentor and the fact that he passed me the cup there is really something. My rank is way down at the bottom and I got it ahead of some of the older guys and that’s because Flower handed it to me and I have to say that’s one of the most special moments of my life.”
Murray is the first CHL graduate to hoist the Stanley Cup as a starting goaltender in consecutive years since Edmonton’s Grant Fuhr (Victoria Cougars) in 1987 and 1988.
What a special group! So proud of this team!!!!! Bringing it back to Pittsburgh!!! pic.twitter.com/foanMtnYsj
— Matt Murray (@mattmurray_30) June 12, 2017
He was one of 15 CHL graduates on Pittsburgh’s playoff roster and one of six to see action in the 2017 NHL Playoffs.