When the Penguins coaching staff made the bold decision to start Matt Murray over Marc-Andre Fleury for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference final against Ottawa, one of the factors at play was outside either goaltender’s hands.
More often than not, dating back to the regular season, the Penguins have played better in front of Murray than Fleury.
That’s not Fleury’s fault, mind you. Fleury’s ability, athleticism and infectious personality have been assets to the Penguins for many years and could continue to be.
There’s just a calmness to Murray’s demeanor that seems to sit well with these Penguins, a somewhat shapeless quality that gives them a competitive advantage.