Sergei Murashov led the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins to a 4-1 victory with a one-goal, 37-save performance in the Calder Cup playoffs. His consistent mindset and ability to handle pressure make him a key player for the team's future.
Key points
Sergei Murashov led the Penguins to a 4-1 victory in the Calder Cup playoffs.
He had a one-goal, 37-save performance in the game.
Murashov allowed only eight goals in four playoff starts.
His consistent mindset helps him perform well under pressure.
Head coach Kirk MacDonald emphasized the need for a top goalie.
A one-goal 37-save performance for a goaltender seems special, otherworldly, a dominant performance to lead a team to a victory. Yet, thatās not what it sounded like after the 4-1 victory for the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, where Sergei Murashov led the team to a victory. He treated it like it was just another game.
Heās been the Penguins' best player all season, and the team goes as he does. āYou need your goalie to be your best player,ā head coach Kirk MacDonald mentioned after the Game Four win, and Murashov was the best player in the Calder Cup series against the Hershey Bears, allowing only eight goals in four starts. Yet, it was just another set of games for the Pegnuins top prospect. His goaltending coach, Kain Tisi, felt the same way. He didnāt think Murashov played at another gear or did anything special. He just played his game, the dominant version that stood out all season.
It speaks to his ability to play under pressure. The playoffs are a different beast with tighter, more intense games. Yet, Murashov treats every game the same and doesnāt play at another gear because itās the big stage. Itās that mindset that makes him a great goaltender, not just for the Calder Cup Playoffs but for years to come, a goaltender the Pittsburgh Penguins hope they can build their future around.
Murashov Stays Even-Keel
Murashov doesnāt think about the opponent. Sure, he gets the scouting report and studies the other teamās tendencies but he isnāt focused on the team in front of him. The Bears have a lot of skill in their forward unit, notably a top six with NHL-caliber prospects. They didnāt change the way Murashov played, or as he puts it, āitās not about who is in front of you, itās about who is with you.ā
Usually, the playoffs are when players flip a switch, and for goaltenders, they play at another level to take over a series. Itās how Clay Stevenson played on the other end, taking things up a notch to make every game close. Murashov processes the playoff games the same way he handled regular-season games.
Q&A
What was Sergei Murashov's performance in the Calder Cup playoffs?
Sergei Murashov had a one-goal, 37-save performance, allowing only eight goals in four starts during the Calder Cup series.
How does Murashov's mindset contribute to his goaltending?
Murashov maintains an even-keel mindset, treating every game the same, which allows him to perform consistently under pressure.
What did Penguins' head coach Kirk MacDonald say about Murashov?
Head coach Kirk MacDonald stated that a team needs its goalie to be its best player, highlighting Murashov's importance to the team's success.
Why is Murashov considered a key player for the Pittsburgh Penguins' future?
Murashov's dominant performance and ability to handle playoff pressure position him as a foundational player for the Penguins moving forward.
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Murashovās ability to remain calm under pressure also shows how, despite being a 22-year-old prospect, heās ahead of schedule. āHeās very mature the way he approaches the game,ā MacDonald added after Game Four. For goaltenders, itās about maturing into someone who can handle every situation, handling what is thrown at them, and making the most of whatās out of their control. Murashov has a mindset to make the next step to the NHL and play at a high level in the playoffs.
On top of that, itās all about finding ways to improve. Murashov entered the season hoping to become a complete goaltender. āHeās always eager to learn more, to learn about himself, about hockey, itās not specific to hockey all the time. How he processes it all is a strength to him; heās quick to process things,ā Tisimentioned in a conversation with The Hockey News in March. Fast forward to a series victory, and Murashov is echoing that sentiment. āItās not about what you are doing, itās about who you are becoming in this league,ā he mentioned after the series-clinching win.
What Makes Him Great
With Murashov, or any goaltender for that matter, thereās the mental game and the physical one. Murashov is an athletic goaltender, someone who can make the big save or the athletic one to frustrate offenses. Then, thereās the mental part of the game, which puts him in positions to succeed.
While heās an athletic goaltender, he rarely makes a highlight save because heās usually in the right position. He saves the initial shot by being positionally sound, relieving both him and the team of plenty of headaches.
Murashov can also adapt to the situation and mentally prepare for a big game. āThe perspective he has, how mindful he is, how kind, his sense of humor but also how he can turn a switch from the nice, kind, thoughtful person to the dog on the ice, the killer. He can turn that switch on,ā Tisi noted earlier in the season. He can flip that switch and become that elite goaltender. He can be the killer, and this season, that killer made him a goaltender who could handle the AHL's toughness. The Bears tried to get to his crease and win physical puck battles. He stood his ground and still controlled the series.
Itās this set of skills that makes it hard to compare him to any type of goaltender in the NHL. The goaltender who comes to mind is Jeremy Swayman; itās the name one scout thought of when watching him play, and his overall demeanor. But, Murashov has stretches of great goaltending around the league. āThe hockey IQ of a Bobrovsky. The intensity and the confidence of a Vasilevskiy,ā Tisi stated when asked which goaltenders come to mind, two Russians with plenty of success in the playoffs. They had the IQ and preparation to win on the big stage, and Murashov already has it at a young age.
Murashov is Playing Well & So is the Team in Front Of Him
Murashov was the star of the series. However, the matchup against the Bears highlighted the entire Wilkes-Barre Scranton group. They donāt have the star power at the top that the Bears have. Instead, they have the depth and put it on display from all four forward lines scoring to every defense pair stepping up.
āThe players go out and execute on a daily basis, and it starts with our leadership group thatās been outstanding all year,ā MacDonald added after the latest game. That leadership group includes veterans who have been around the AHL and the NHL, whom most teams give up on but the Penguins gave a shot.
Rafael Harvey-Pinard bounced around before signing with the Penguins ahead of the 2025-26 season. He became a top-line winger who mentored the younger players, allowing Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen to take a step forward. Tristan Broz is only in his second AHL season but at 23, heās become a leader in the room and a driver of the offense. āBroz carried that puck and transferred it and moved his feet through the neutral zone, and thatās the skill thatās going to help him get to the next level,ā MacDonald noted after the game on the center who had four assists in the series and set up the third goal of Game Four, a knockout punch to end the series.
This is a group that can go on a Calder Cup run and has a tight-knit group both on and off the ice. āThey have a lot of fun! Maybe too much fun,ā MacDonald mentioned about the Penguins earlier in the season. When Murashov was asked about the team, he couldnāt praise them enough. āIf I would write a book at some point in my life this year, I would be writing it with a nice smile. Itās so fun coming to the rink. Itās great to overcome all the challenges together. We stick together and just keep going. Iām blessed to play with these guys," he stated to wrap up his postgame presser and cap off a good night for the Penguins AHL team.