For much of this season, Sergei Murashov grabbed attention with the saves. And more saves.
His game commands attention. The athletic recoveries. The explosive lateral pushes. The glove flashes that can flip momentum in an instant. After splitting last season–his first in North America–between Wheeling (ECHL) and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL), this season his play earned him a handful of NHL games and 38 WBS starts.
Inside the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins room, though, his reputation comes from something beyond the highlights: The details.
This season with WBS, Murashov posted a healthy .919 save percentage with a 24-9-4 record. In four playoff games, Murashov has a more impressive .937 save percentage, including stopping 37 of 38 in the first-round series clinching win Thursday over Hershey.
**Sam Wismer is a reporter covering the Penguins’ minor leagues and a new contributor to PHN. She spoke with Kain Tisi, the WBS goalie coach, about Murashov.
Tisi points to a clear shift in Murashov’s game—one that goes beyond jaw-dropping moments and into how he drives play for the entire team.
“I would say his ability to kind of simplify his playing would be number one, and how it’s impacted our overall team possession numbers,” Tisi said. “He’s always had the puck skills, but I think it’s evolved and incorporated our team concepts into that as well.”
Photo Credit: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
That change shows up in real and tangible ways. Murashov entered pro hockey with elite tools. His athleticism leaps off the video screen. His puckhandling stood out right away. This season, he has tightened those strengths into a more controlled, intentional game. He moves pucks quicker and cleaner, limits chaos in his crease. Murashov reads earlier. Those small adjustments help Wilkes-Barre/Scranton exit the zone faster and spend more time with the puck.
Murashov doesn’t just stop plays—he starts them, and Tisi sees the foundation behind that growth every day.
“I would just say for him personally, he’s very mature in how he looks at the game and the world in general,” Tisi said. “So I think his maturity, his discipline, how he prepares himself—as a young pro, he’s wiser than his age.”
That maturity drives his routine. Murashov prepares with purpose. He sticks to his habits. He doesn’t chase results; he builds them. For a young goaltender, that mindset matters as much as any physical trait. The flashes remain.
Tisi doesn’t hesitate when asked about a defining moment for Murashov.
“There was one big one in Cleveland,” he said. “That was the one that stands out for me, where he made a backdoor glove save. I mean, it’s every day in practice, too. It’s not just like one-offs.”
That last part carries weight.
Murashov doesn’t rely on isolated brilliance. He repeats it. Practice habits translate directly into games, and that consistency builds trust.
Inside the room, teammates have taken notice, too.
“I think he’s earned a lot of respect from the older guys, the younger guys,” Tisi said. “(Sergei) fits in well. He’s got a great sense of humor, is a great teammate, and how he carries himself on and off the ice. He’s funny, sense of humor, just a great teammate overall.”
After all, how many goalies hide a little drawing of Olaf from Frozen on their pads, and regularly receive stuffed Olaf gifts, as he did after Game 4 when WBS beat Hershey, and then laugh to a couple of reporters (including Pittsburgh Hockey Now) about it.
Murashov brings more than statistical performance. He has that rare presence that connects with teammates and keeps the room light. He competes hard without losing perspective. That balance helps him fit naturally into a veteran group, something many young goalies struggle to do.
Photo Credit: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Above everything, one trait defines his rise. Consistency. “Just how relentless he is,” Tisi said.
“Some guys come in, and early on in the season, they set high bars for themselves, but for him, it’s been every day. So I would say his discipline to maintain that relentless work ethic keeps his standard high and the quality of his work very high, both in practice and in games.”
His athletic ceiling has always been intriguing. Now, his discipline, maturity, and daily habits are turning that potential into something far more concrete, as an NHL shot awaits next season.
Murashov still has room to grow. His game, his mindset, and his impact all point in the same direction. Up.
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