Goalies More Even In 2nd Penguins Scrimmage, 3-3 Tie

There was no seven-goal albatross this time. In the second scrimmage of the Pittsburgh Penguins Phase 3 training camp, goaltenders Matt Murray and Tristan Jarry both played well in a 3-3 draw at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.

Neither gave up a goal to any of the Penguins’ offensive stars. The goals came from Patrick Marleau (two), Evan Rodrigues, Jack Johnson, Chad Ruhwedel and Teddy Blueger.

In the first scrimmage, Saturday, Murray gave up seven goals, while Jarry pitched a shutout. Although speculation has leaned toward two-time Stanley Cup winner Murray starting when the Penguins take on the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL’s play-in round starting Aug. 1, there has been a lot of competition during camp.

It should be noted that for Monday’s scrimmage, the goalies flipped teams. Murray played for Team Black, which featured the top two lines and the top defensive pairing of Kris Letang and Brian Dumoulin. Jarry played for Team Gold.

“It’s not your typical training camp, so it’s been hard to have expectations,” Murray said. “Just trying to get up to speed as quickly as possible. … You can’t really focus on the results; you’ve got to focus on the process.”

As for the dynamic with Jarry in such unusual circumstances as this summer, Murray said, “I think we push each other all the time. We lean on each other all the time. This training camp is no different. It’s new, and it’s a lot shorter ramp-up period, but we’ve just got to use the tools that are at our disposal, try to have fun with it and try to get going full speed as quick as possible.”

The lineups, forward lines and defensive pairings were the same as they were at the close of Saturday’s scrimmage. Center and captain Sidney Crosby did not play. He left Saturday’s scrimmage and has not been on the ice since. He is apparently dealing with something minor, although the team is prohibited by the NHL from making any comment on his status.

Murray made a strong save early, stopping Zach Aston-Reese on a deflection attempt off a John Marino feed.

Not long after that, Rodrigues – again filling in for Crosby on the top line – got a backhander past Jarry for a 1-0 Black lead.

Later in the first half (two 25-minute periods, with about five minutes of special teams work at the end of each half), Marleau scored on a sharp-angle shot from the left side that went in off Murray following a turnover by Letang for a 1-1 tie.

In the second half, Johnson scored from the slot for a 2-1 Black lead before Ruhwedel tied it again from the top of the crease.

Blueger fired a shot under the crossbar to give the Gold team a 3-2 lead going into the special teams portion of the second half.

Marleau tied it on a deflection of a Marino pass.

The lineups:

Team Black

Jake Guentzel-Evan Rodrigues-Conor Sheary

Jason Zucker-Evgeni Malkin-Bryan Rust

Brian Dumoulin-Kris Letang

Jack Johnson-Justin Schultz

Matt Murray

Gold

Patrick Marleau-Jared McCann-Sam Lafferty

Zach Aston-Reese/Teddy Blueger-Brandon Tanev

Marcus Pettersson-John Marino

Kevin Czuczman-Chad Ruhwedel

Tristan Jarry