Penguins/NHL
Latest Pens Buzz
[More Trouble for Murray]
[Riikola to debut]
[Ottawa front and Center in monitoring Maatta situation?]
[Reason behind Grant placed on waivers]
The Penguins on Tuesday revealed that goaltender Matt Murray has been diagnosed with a concussion, spelling more trouble for Murray who has opened the season allowing 11 goals in 2 games.
The short and long-term concern for Murray’s personally is that this is now his 3rd known concussion since April 2016.
Murray was bumped a few times in Saturday’s game, but indications are the injury happened in Monday’s practice when a Penguins forward To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Predicting how anyone will respond from a concussion is a crapshoot, but the way Murray is already responding has the Penguins optimistic that it won’t be a long-term absence by any means, sources said late Wednesday morning. [hide]
For Murray he continues to get what the organization has felt is bad luck injuries (total of 8 injuries since 2015-2016 season) and he was right at the top of the list of players the Penguins for sure wanted to see get off to a great start.
Murray’s performance as a whole last season was not as bad as many made it out to be. It was just such a big drop off from his level of play from the previous two seasons that with all the injuries mounting, the drop-off last season to how he looked already vs the Capitals/Canadiens that have some wondering what the Penguins actually have in Murray?
This is a what have you done for me lately business and it’s understandable some doubts are emerging that maybe the .925 save percentage goaltending that was the Murray standard his first two seasons is not coming back.
— Casey DeSmith will start for Vegas and the goaltending situation will be a game-by-game basis until Murray is back.
“It’s at times like these where we have to rely on our depth [in goal] and we believe in the group that we have here,” said Sullivan. “I think both Casey and Tristan have shown that they’re NHL caliber goalies. [/hide]
As for Tristan Jarry, it’s an earlier than expected opportunity for him to put some good NHL tape out there.
The Carolina Hurricanes interest in Jarry from early in the summer has waned, but the New York To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
— Olli Maatta was informed prior to Tuesday’s practice he will be a healthy scratch vs Vegas and the coaching staff has gone over with him on what he needs to improve.
Maatta is taking the scratch in stride and while this is expected to be a short-term situation with him out of the top-6, Juuso Riikola could change those plans.
Pittsburgh feels the Golden Knights speed game is an ideal situation for Riikola to be inserted into the lineup. The organization truly doesn’t know what they have in Riikola but there is great intrigue from some higher-up’s that this is a player whose style of play is built for today’s NHL.
If Riikola plays well out of the gate and keeps Maatta in the press box, calls into the Penguins from clubs about Maatta’s availability are going to be a daily occurrence.
On news of Maatta’s pending scratch, one Eastern To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
While Maatta’s trade stock has significantly fallen from where it was say three years ago, there are some coaches out there who would love to their get hands on Maatta and there’s a sense among scouts that Maatta needs to play in a [hide] Guy Boucher type of system to play up to his ability.
Interesting enough, Ottawa and Pittsburgh had talked To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
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Latest Pens Buzz: Matt Murray dealing with minor injury?
Morning Pens Buzz: Penguins attempted 72 shots in 1-0 loss to Av’s & Latest Rumblings on Olli Maatta
