The Pittsburgh Penguins took the ice Sunday afternoon for a weekend matinee against the visiting Los Angeles Kings. A trip that was supposed to be highlighted by the legendary Anze Kopitar’s final trip to the PPG Paints Arena was hijacked by a bright-eyed rookie making his NHL debut.
Goalie Sergei Murashov, 21, was between the pipes for his first regular season action. The 2022 fourth-round draft pick began this season skating with Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. But after posting a 5-2 record with a goals against average of 1.73 in his first seven starts, the Russian got the call to the NHL.
The rookie did not disappoint. Murashov made 24 saves on the day, including a handful of flashy stops in the losing effort.
He nearly escaped the first period unscathed, but an unlucky bounce coming off his own defenders’ stick sent the puck skipping through Murashov’s five-hole with five minutes to play. Kopitar got credit for the goal.
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After a perfect second period from Murashov, the Penguins were able to build and maintain a 2-1 lead for much of the game. But a wrist shot on the odd-man rush from yet another veteran, 40-year-old Corey Perry, tied things up with 15 minutes to play in regulation.
Seven minutes later, Kings forward Kevin Fiala snaked his way behind the Penguins defense and went one-on-one with Murashov. The tender laid out in his crease and nearly got his glove on what would be the game-winning goal.
All in all, it was an impressive debut performance from the rookie who said he fell short of his ultimate goal.
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“Obviously, it’s not the result I wanted, we wanted,” Murashov told reporters after the game. “Yes, it’s a special night for me, but at the end of the day, all I’m wanting is just to get two points for the team… But it’s a good lesson. We will learn from it and keep getting stronger. And me personally.”
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Featured image via James Carey Lauder/Imagn Images