The Penguins have lost Matt Murray for a while.
Possibly a long while.
Their two-time Stanley Cup champion goaltender had to be helped off the PPG Paints Arena ice Monday night in the second period of the 5-4 overtime victory against the Flyers, this after Philadelphia center Jakub Voracek, on a partial break, slid to the ice and crashed into his right leg and the goal post:
Afterward, Mike Sullivan didn't offer much of an update, saying only, "Matt will be evaluated tomorrow. He's obviously out with a lower-body injury, and we'll probably have more answers tomorrow. So that's where that's at."
More telling might have been Sullivan's ensuing remarks about backup Tristan Jarry, who stopped 8 of 10 shots in his fourth NHL appearance: "As far as Tristan's concerned, we believe he's a solid goalie. And I think his game he played against Tampa was a perfect example of what he's capable of. And that being said, if that becomes the scenario, then Tristan's going to have to make timely saves for us game in and game out. And we believe he can do that."
Of his play in the past two games -- 41 saves on 45 shots, including 33 saves Saturday in the 5-2 victory over the Lightning -- Jarry said, "I'm just trying to do my best and get better and better."
Of his mindset upon seeing Murray's injury: "I just prepared myself like I was going in. You have to be prepared like that as the backup goalie, being able to go in at a moment's notice."
Of his confidence in being able to replace Murray for any sustained period: "I think that comes with the comfort level of being in there every day, being able to face the shooters. I think that comes naturally. I feel like every day I'm here, I'm getting better and better."
The players, as would be expected, expressed confidence in Jarry.
"The games he's played for us, he's played really well," Bryan Rust said. "He's a guy who everyone in this locker room can trust to make saves, and we saw that tonight. It can be demoralizing when you see your goalie get hurt. But he stepped in there, made a couple big saves right away and was a rock for us the rest of the game. And I think we fed off that."
The collision occurred at 15:39 of the second period, with Voracek collecting the puck along the left boards behind a pinching Justin Schultz and accelerating toward the crease before the Penguins' Matt Hunwick could cut him off. Hunwick got close enough only to get his stick blade into Voracek, which might or might not have been what caused the Flyers' leading scorer to lose his edge on one or both skates:
Voracek still found the handle on the puck to try to jam home a forehand shot, which Murray stopped with the right pad. But in the same motion, Voracek arrived with enough force into Murray that the goal was knocked from its magnetic moorings and Murray was sent back several feet.
Voracek wasn't among the players available to media in the Philadelphia locker room.
Several participants on the ice, including the officials, immediately reacted with alarm. Claude Giroux, the Flyers' captain, whirled back to the Penguins' bench and waved his arm for medical help. The crowd went from roaring for Murray's save to a thick silence.
"It's just a tough play," Sidney Crosby said. "He makes a great save. I wouldn't say it's a typical save because he had to kind of reach back. There was a lot of force with the way Voracek was trying to jam the puck in, so it's just kind of an awkward position. But Matt's been great for us, and hopefully, he's all right."
MATT SUNDAY GALLERY
