You love hockey. You love SB Nation. You love reading hockey at SB Nation. Search your feelings. You know these things are true. But life’s too busy to browse the whole network for news. So, we’ll send hockey news to your inbox every morning. All you need to do is subscribe.
Morning Skate: The Penguins have the best kind of goalie problem
Matt Murray presents so many good options.
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Lace ‘em up. Time for the Morning Skate.
* * *
A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE
Matt Murray did it again.
The Pittsburgh Penguins now own a 2-1 series lead over the Washington Capitals thanks to the 47-save performance by their 21-year-old rookie netminder. To survive the series, the Penguins needed Murray to at least tread water against Capitals goalie Braden Holtby.
He’s done more than that. Through three games in the conference semifinals, he owns a .935 save percentage and a 2.22 goals against average. He’s fifth among playoff goalies in both overall categories. He’s turned a positional question mark in Marc-Andre Fleury’s absence into a strength for the Penguins.
And he sets up a great problem for the Penguins, who now have a great-to-elite goalie in Fleury and a young goalie showing flashes of that level right now. Fleury is locked up for the next three years; he's still the go-to guy in net. But now the Penguins have three options. They can hold on to Murray and have an elite backup until Fleury leaves (likely). They can trade Fleury (unlikely). Or they can dangle Murray out there to teams desperate for a netminder (hello, Dallas) and rake in draft picks and prospects (like the Rangers and Cam Talbot or the Kings and Martin Jones).
It’s one of the most enviable situations in the NHL, and Pittsburgh must feel extremely fortunate right now.
SID vs. OVI UPDATE
I said I wasn't going to do this but it's worth mentioning now that Sidney Crosby has no points in three games against the Capitals. And his team is still winning! It's almost like the Penguins have depth or something now.
CALDER TIME
NHL writers have nominated Shayne Gostisbehere, Connor McDavid and Artemi Panarin as Rookie of the Year nominees. The whole McDavid thing is an interesting argument we'll certainly dive into over the next few weeks.
ANOTHER SUSPENSION INCOMING
The Capitals lost Brooks Orpik to a three-game suspension over the weekend, and now the Penguins might lose Kris Letang after a high hit of his own. One team is going to miss their player more than the other. (Hint: It's the team named after the flightless bird.)
TONIGHT’S PLAYOFF FUN:
- Busy night! The Islanders and Lightning kick off the festivities in Game 3. It sounds like the Islanders are getting healthy ...
- ... but so are the Lightning.
- The Predators try to avoid a 3-0 series hole to the Sharks in Game 3.
- If Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton keep producing then the Predators will have a tough time.
- The Stars blew it in Game 2 and now face two tough tests in St. Louis.
- But Tyler Seguin skated on Monday, and Blues fans are kind of worried.
NEWS AND NOTES:
See More:
