Penguins to start Matt Murray against Red Wings
DETROIT — The Penguins are expected to start goaltender Matt Murray for Friday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings in Little Caesars Arena, according to coach Mike Sullivan.
In 25 games this season, Murray has a 13-6-4, a 2.91 goals against average, an .896 save percentage and one shutout.
Having been virtually supplanted as the starting goaltender by Tristan Jarry over the past two months, Murray has had the benefit of working more extensively with goaltending coach Mike Buckley.
Sullivan suggested the finer points of Murray’s skill set have improved due to that extended one-on-one time with Buckley.
“A lot of it has,” Sullivan said. “His complete overall game has. His positioning in the crease is sharper. As a result, I think his game is getting better with every start he has. We really like the direction he’s going.”
Earlier this week, Sullivan lauded Murray’s attitude while Jarry has taken over.
“I think Matt’s been a great pro,” Sullivan said. “He has a certain maturity about him. I think he understands the business. He controls what he can. He’s got a great work ethic, a great approach. I think he’s handled the adversity extremely well.”
Notes:
• Sullivan offered an update of sorts on injured defenseman Brian Dumoulin, sidelined since Nov. 30 due to a left ankle injury.
“I can’t give you time frames at this point where he’s at with respect to when he’s going on the ice,” Sullivan said. “I do know that he’s making progress.”
On Friday, Dumoulin was spotted walking by the dressing room of the team’s facility in Cranberry without the assistance of crutches.
• After losing, 4-1, on the road to the Boston Bruins on Thursday, the Penguins did not stage a morning skate Friday.
• Former Penguins defenseman Trevor Daley will return to the Red Wings’ lineup after missing four games due to an undisclosed injury. Various ailments have limited him to 22 games and one assist this season.
• The Red Wings are expected to start goaltender Jimmy Howard. In 19 games this season, Howard has a 2-16-1 record along with a 4.26 goals against average and an .876 goals against average.
• In in his two games since returning from a core muscle injury which sidelined him for two-plus months, Penguins forward Sidney Crosby has five points (two goals, three assists).
One person not surprised by that production is Daley. A member of the Penguins’ Stanley Cup teams in 2016 and 2017, Daley saw first-hand what Crosby is capable of.
“It’s kind of normal for him,” Daley said to Detroit reporters. “That’s why he’s so great. He can do stuff like that.”
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
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