The Pittsburgh Penguins suffered a tough 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday night, and while losing is never good, there was an air of excitement surrounding the team in this game. That’s because 21-year-old Russian goaltender Sergei Murashov made his NHL debut and looked solid during his first action in between the pipes.
A fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, Murashov has been closing in on making his NHL debut for some time now, and he ended up stopping 24 of the 27 shots he faced against the Kings. He may not have gotten the result he wanted in his first game, but Murashov revealed just how much he appreciated the fans rallying behind him in this one.
“Fans were really, really supportive for me,” Murashov said after the game. “I felt it, and truly appreciate it, everyone who came to the building today instead of watching Steelers. I know it’s a game today. Definitely, it’s a great building, great city, great people here. So, I truly appreciate that.”
On most nights, Arturs Silovs or Tristan Jarry will draw the start for the Penguins in goal, but getting Murashov some time on the ice doesn’t hurt either, especially when considering just how much potential he appears to have. Pittsburgh will enjoy several days off now, as the team won’t be back in action until they take on the Nashville Predators on Friday afternoon.
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Featured image via Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images