When it comes to his decision-making process, Dan Muse is all hockey.

But when Washington visits PPG Paints Arena on Thursday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins coach needs to have a sense of the occasion and start Sergei Murashov.

The Penguins’ goaltender of the future has arrived earlier than expected because Tristan Jarry got hurt. Murashov will make his NHL debut either Thursday night or Saturday on the road vs. New Jersey at 12:30 p.m.

Penguins fans won’t remember what happens mid-day at Newark. Nobody does, unless Tony Soprano gets whacked.

Indulge a little showbiz. Create a little hype. Give a moment an opportunity to materialize.

It could be like Marc-Andre Fleury’s NHL debut Oct. 10, 2003 at Mellon Arena. Fleury was 18.

The Penguins lost 3-0 but Fleury made 46 saves, including a penalty shot. He was the game’s No. 1 star.

Fleury announced to Pittsburgh who he was and what he was going to do. It was an indelible event for the 16,986 who were there.

Give that a chance to happen again.

If it doesn’t, so what? If Murashov gets lit up, too bad. No risk it, no biscuit.

The Penguins’ average home attendance is 15,014. That’s just 81.7% of capacity. That’s second-worst in the NHL.

Starting Murashov might not sell many extra tickets on the night.

But something could happen that could bring those attending back.

Muse’s goalie rotation has worked, with Jarry and Arturs Silovs both playing well. (Until Jarry allowed four goals on 20 shots in a calamitous loss at Toronto on Monday, anyway.)

But that rotation and its success shouldn’t be so sacred as to veto a chance at something special.

Muse is smart.

But to not start Murashov on Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena would be stupid.

Ask owners Fenway Sports Group what they think.

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