Patrick Roy, Ron Hextall, Cam Ward, and now, Matt Murray.
After winning the Stanley Cup on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Penguins' goaltender is into the record books with his 15th victory of the spring, tying the NHL rookie record for wins in a single playoff year.
Yeah, stellar company for a kid who turned 22 on May 25.
| Goalie | Age | Year | SV% | GAA | Starts | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roy* | 20 | 1986 | .923 | 1.92 | 20 | 15-5 |
| Hextall | 22 | 1987 | .908 | 2.77 | 26 | 15-11 |
| Ward* | 21 | 2006 | .920 | 2.14 | 23 | 15-8 |
| Murray* | 21 | 2016 | .923 | 2.08 | 21 | 15-6 |
* Won Stanley Cup
Murray made only 13 starts during the regular season, though he certainly proved himself, posting a .930 save percentage and finishing with a 9-2-1 record.
The Thunder Bay, Ontario native was thrust into action in Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the New York Rangers after third-string Penguins goalie Jeff Zatkoff started Games 1 and 2 in place of a concussed Marc-Andre Fleury.
A head injury of his own kept Murray from dressing in Games 1 and 2, but once he got into the crease, he owned it. Murray won his three starts against the Rangers, with the Penguins advancing in five games. He stopped 85 of the 89 shots the Blueshirts threw at him, showing remarkable poise in what was a pressure-packed situation.
Murray kept the net in the second round, even though Fleury was deemed healthy before Game 3 against the Washington Capitals. Not having played for so long, the Penguins were weary of tossing Fleury into action, and Murray rewarded their faith in him, posting a .926 save percentage in Pittsburgh's six-game series win over the high-flying Caps. Murray went 2-1 in overtime games in the series, again showing serious mettle for a young goalie on the game's brightest stage.
The third round was Murray's worst. He struggled in three of Pittsburgh's first four games against the Tampa Bay Lightning, eventually being pulled in favor of Fleury in Game 4. Fleury got the start in Game 5 of a 2-2 series, but the Penguins lost 4-3 in overtime, with Fleury stopping only 21 of 25 shots.
With their season and Cup dreams on the line, the Penguins went back to Murray in a must-win Game 6. He stopped 28 of 30 shots on the road as Pittsburgh forced a Game 7 back in Pittsburgh. The Penguins, of course, won Game 7, and Murray stopped a combined 44 of 47 shots in the elimination games - the biggest contests of his career.
Murray was a rock in the Stanley Cup Final against the San Jose Sharks, allowing more than two goals in a game only twice.
It was undoubtedly a spring to remember. The best spring of Matt Murray's life.
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