Prior to Tuesday night’s Game 3, Penguins goalie Matt Murray had never played a second of playoff hockey.
After the Penguins 3-1win over the Rangers, to take a 2-1 series lead, he had his first playoff win.
The Pens rookie netminder saved 16 Rangers shots (the defense blocked several more) as Pittsburgh overcame an early second-period Rick Nash goal with unanswered strikes in the second and third from Sidney Crosby (his second on the power play) and Matt Cullen (his first) to seize a lead with the clock working against New York. The Penguins kept up their intensity and were able to keep most of the play in their offense end as the game ticked toward a conclusion. A Kris Letang empty-netter clinched the win with 12 seconds to play. Healthy and in net for the Blue Shirts, Henrik Lundqvist saw more action at his end, stopping 29 Penguins shots and keeping the Rangers in the game for all 60 minutes.
The series reconvenes Thursday night back in the Big Apple for Game 4, on MSG and at MSG (a 7 p.m. start).
Rangers have no answer for Penguins rookie Matt Murray in Game 3 setback
