Penguins to start Murray over Fleury in Game 4
The verdict is in: It's Matt Murray.
The Pittsburgh Penguins will start the goaltender in Game 4 against the Ottawa Senators in place of Marc-Andre Fleury, head coach Mike Sullivan announced Friday afternoon.
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"I'm not going to elaborate on the decision," Sullivan said, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.
Fleury was pulled from Game 3 on Wednesday after Ottawa blitzed Pittsburgh for four goals on only nine shots in the first period. Murray stopped 19-of-20 shots in relief, and Fleury will resume his backup duties behind the 22-year-old.
Coach Sullivan on Fleury's reaction to the change: "Marc was a professional like he always is."
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) May 19, 2017
Friday will be Murray's first start of the playoffs. He was hurt in warmups ahead of Game 1 in the first round, with Fleury taking over and leading the Penguins to their nine spring wins.
Last season, Murray took over for Fleury late in the season, winning 15 games in the playoffs as Pittsburgh won its second Stanley Cup in the Sidney Crosby era.
Sullivan also announced that Patric Hornqvist, Bryan Rust, and Justin Schultz will all miss Game 4 and are considered day to day with their respective injuries. The trio missed Game 3.
Ottawa leads the Eastern Conference Final 2-1.