PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 02: Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Pittsburgh Penguins looks on from the bench in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Second Round against the Washington Capitals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Consol Energy Center on May 2, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Marc-Andre Fleury is supportive of Matt Murray starting

The Pittsburgh Penguins have been a dominant force throughout the playoffs and one of the key factors for the team has been the great play of rookie goaltender Matt Murray.

The 21-year-old has appeared in seven games and has sported an excellent 6-0-1 record, a 1.81 GAA and a .944 save percentage. He’s played way above his rookie status, evident by his 47 save performance in Pittsburgh’s 3-2 Game 3 victory and 34 saves in the Penguins 3-2 Game 4 victory over the Washington Capitals

Murray has taken the mantle as Penguins starting goalie. That appears to be OK with the now-healthy Marc-Andre Fleury, who told Jenn Menendez of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that while he’ll stay ready, he understands Murray is giving the Penguins a chance to win.

“That’s fine. I haven’t played in a month now,” Fleury said Tuesday after an optional skate at the team’s practice facility. “What’s important is us winning. Matty’s giving us a chance to win every night he’s been in there. I’ll stay ready. I’ll encourage him. It’s not a personal game. It’s a team game.”

It must be tough for Fleury to be healthy to watch Murray start over him, but he seems to understand that the youngster has earned the right.

Head coach Mike Sullivan said Fleury is still working towards getting back into a playing mindset following a concussion injury. The Penguins bench boss said he’s happy to have both goalies on his side.

“He’ll continue to go through the process of getting his timing back and getting more involved in the intensity in practice,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “I think it’s great progress that he’s where he’s at. We feel as though right now we have two guys in Mark and Matt that are, we think, terrific goaltenders.”

Really, it’s a win-win for Sullivan. If Murray continues to play well, the Penguins are in good shape. If Murray falters, he’s got an experienced goalie in Fleury to take over.

While the offseason may force the Penguins to make a difficult decision in regards to their goaltending situation, for now, the club is more than OK with rolling with the excelling goaltending they’ve got.

[theScore]

About Liam McGuire

Social +Staff writer for The Comeback & Awful Announcing. Liammcguirejournalism@gmail.com

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