Pittsburgh Penguins (2-1)
Head coach Mike Sullivan got straight to the point before today’s game: “Matt Murray is starting tonight in net.” (Marc-Andre Fleury remains day-to-day after suffering his second concussion toward the end of the regular season.) On Tuesday, Murray became the youngest goaltender to start a postseason game for Pittsburgh. And, not only did he start, he dominated in Game 3 to secure the Penguins’ win.
Last game out, seasoned veteran Matt Cullen scored what would be the game-winning goal in the third period. Cullen has scored a goal in all three games Pittsburgh has played at Madison Square Garden this year. The Penguins have won 16 of their last 25 games when playing on the Rangers’ home ice.
New York Rangers (1-2)
After playing in 26 shifts in Game 1, defenseman Dan Girardi has missed the last two games with an undisclosed injury. Ryan McDonagh, who did return in Game 3, had this to say following optional practice yesterday, “I was fine. I’m more worried about this team and the series. We know what makes us successful and what works against this team.”
Rookie d-man Brady Skjei has filled up most of the time with the absence of both Girardi and McDonagh, averaging 18:41 minutes through the first three games. The Rangers have also made a number of roster moves, recalling forwards Chris Brown, Nicklas Jensen, Jayson Megna and Daniel Paille and defensemen Mat Bodie, Ryan Graves and Chris Summers from Hartford.
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
When: Thursday, April 21 @ 7:00 p.m.
Watch: CNBC, TVA SPORTS, SN, MSG, ROOT
Image Credit: Getty Images
