Matt Murray isn't Marc-Andre Fleury, but he's doing a pretty spot-on impression.
Murray made 38 saves in a series-clinching 6-3 victory over the New York Rangers on Saturday, becoming only the second goaltender in Pittsburgh Penguins history - and first since Les Binkley in 1970 - to win each of his first three career playoff starts.
The 21-year-old hasn't appeared to be phased by the pressure of the postseason, but he admits he was nervous before making his playoff debut at Madison Square Garden in Game 3.
"It was hard to control the nerves, but I just wanted to focus on staying in the moment and enjoying every minute of it," Murray said Sunday on ESPN's SportsCenter.
He stopped 17 of 18 shots in his postseason debut and turned aside 72 of 75 shots over the next two games while filling in for Fleury, who worked out in full equipment Saturday but remains sidelined with a concussion.
Murray suffered a head injury of his own in the final game of the regular season against the Philadelphia Flyers, forcing Jeff Zatkoff to start the first two games of the opening round.
"It was a little frustrating, for sure," Murray said Sunday. "I was playing pretty well and starting a lot of games. This is my first time playing that many games at this level."
Murray went 9-2-1 with a 2.00 GAA, a save percentage of .930, and a shutout in 13 regular-season games for the Penguins before being thrust into the playoff spotlight.
He put up similar numbers in the AHL, posting a 2.10 GAA, a .931 save percentage, four shutouts, and a 20-9-1 record in 31 contests with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season.
Murray spent parts of four campaigns with Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate after the Penguins made him a third-round pick in 2012.
