Has Fleury played his last game as a Penguin?
The crease belongs to Matt Murray.
After stepping into Game 3 against the Ottawa Senators in relief of Marc-Andre Fleury - who allowed four goals on nine shots - the Pittsburgh Penguins youngster has taken the puck and run with it.
Now with three appearances this spring, Murray is once again the man between the pipes in Pittsburgh after his postseason debut was delayed by a groin injury.
That left Fleury to carry the load early on, and he emerged as one of the Penguins' top performers as they knocked off the Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals en route to their fifth trip to the conference finals in 10 seasons.
Through the first two rounds, Fleury was sensational, owning a .927 save percentage to push the Penguins halfway to Lord Stanley.
But the veteran netminder hasn't seen as much success in Round 3 against the Senators. After respectable showings through the first two games, it all fell apart for Fleury in Game 3, with Murray coming in midway through the first period and not looking back. Murray has since picked up two victories and allowed just a pair of goals through two starts.
In all, Murray hasn't missed a beat since coming on to the playoff scene a year ago, owning a 17-6 spring record to go with a .927 save percentage over two postseasons.
That performance not only guided the Penguins to the Stanley Cup a year ago, but it had Murray's name bandied about for Conn Smythe honors. This season, while the 22-year-old wasn't nominated for the Calder Trophy, he was the top freshman goalie, carrying a 32-10-4 record.
That all bodes well for Murray's future, while only further cementing Fleury's impending exit from Pittsburgh. The veteran is nevertheless in good spirits despite being back on the bench.
"I don't want to make this about me," Fleury told Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette following Game 3. "Last playoff, this season, it's about the team."
The coming expansion draft will play a big part in determining Fleury's fate. The rules allow teams to protect one goaltender, meaning another must be exposed to the Vegas Golden Knights. The catch is that Fleury holds a no-movement clause that restricts his availability.
But unless Pittsburgh wants to leave Murray free for the taking, or offer up a prime piece to persuade the Golden Knights to pluck another Penguin besides a goaltender, Fleury will ultimately be on the move this offseason, whether to Las Vegas or elsewhere.
Fleury's time as the starter in Pittsburgh may have come to a close, but he could be home to a new team and its top job as soon as next month.