Penguins rookie goaltender Sergei Murashov is still getting used to his surroundings in Pittsburgh (and America, for that matter).<\/p>\n
So, if the 21-year-old Russian wasn\u2019t completely certain that the local football squad was playing at night on Sunday, he can be forgiven.<\/p>\n
He was just grateful for the enthusiastic reception he received when he took to the ice for his NHL debut during a 3-2 home loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt it, and truly appreciate it, everyone who came to the building today instead of watching (the) Steelers,\u201d Murashov said. \u201cI know it\u2019s a game today.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a great building, great city, great people here. So, I truly appreciate that.\u201d<\/p>\n
That adoration was mutual as the highly intriguing prospect was cheered upon being formally announced as the starting goaltender, then drew roars with a handful of athletic toe saves or technically proficient denials with his glove.<\/p>\n
In total, Murashov stopped 24 of 27 shots in a come-from-ahead loss. The Kings wound up scoring a pair of goals in the third period to claim victory.<\/p>\n
\u201cA couple of plays where we didn\u2019t have enough guys back,\u201d Penguins forward Tommy Novak said. \u201cAnd they\u2019re good off the rush and executed well. Had a couple of breakdowns.\u201d<\/p>\n
Novak opened the scoring with his second goal of the season 8 minutes, 48 seconds into regulation.<\/p>\n
Taking a pass in Los Angeles\u2019 left circle, Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin flicked a backhanded pass to the front of the crease, where Novak was stationed. As Kings defenseman Drew Doughty tried to hog tie him to the ice, Novak was able to shuffle in a forehand shot by goaltender Darcy Kuemper\u2019s right skate.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just a great pass,\u201d Novak said. \u201cI just tried to fight for the net-front positioning. Right on my tape, a perfect pass.\u201d<\/p>\n
The contest was tied at 14:34 of the first period when Kings forward Anze Kopitar \u2014 a 20-year veteran who is retiring after this season and was making his final presumed visit to Pittsburgh \u2014 scored his second goal during a power-play sequence.<\/p>\n
Taking a pass in the Penguins\u2019 left corner, Kopitar simply snapped a bad-angle wrister to the crease, and the puck wound up glancing off of Wotherspoon\u2019s stick, then hitting off the inside of Murashov\u2019s left leg before deflecting into the cage.<\/p>\n
Penguins forward Anthony Mantha scored his eighth goal at 7:48 of the second period to restore a lead.<\/p>\n
From the right half-wall of the offensive zone, Penguins rookie forward Ville Koivunen fed the puck to the high slot, where Mantha one-touched a backhanded pass through his legs to the right point. Penguins defenseman Kris Letang accepted the pass, waited a moment for Kopitar to apply pressure, then slipped the puck back to Mantha, who pumped a wrister from the left hashmarks through Kuemper\u2019s five hole.<\/p>\n
Kings forward Corey Perry\u2019s team-leading seventh goal came at 4:49 of the third period.<\/p>\n
Utilizing a combined screen of former Penguins defenseman Cody Ceci and current Penguins defenseman Shea, Perry fired a wrister from the Penguins\u2019 high slot by Murashov\u2019s blocker.<\/p>\n
Fiala supplied the visitors with their first lead of the contest with his seventh goal at 11:52 of the third frame.<\/p>\n
Entering the Penguins\u2019 zone on the right wing, Fiala challenged Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson one-on-one. Deking past Karlsson in the right circle, Fiala attacked the cage by skating across the front of the crease, then roofed a wrister over the glove of a sprawling Murashov.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe got away from some of the defensive details that are important,\u201d Penguins coach Dan Muse said. \u201cYou look at the chances and what we gave up. And I think we need to do a better job of generating five on five. It\u2019s both sides of it. We didn\u2019t get it done there (today).\u201d<\/p>\n
The result was the Penguins\u2019 fourth loss out of their past five games (1-3-1).<\/p>\n
But Murashov\u2019s otherwise sturdy performance provided a small cause to celebrate in his adopted hometown.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, it\u2019s not the result I wanted, we wanted,\u201d Murashov said. \u201cYes, it\u2019s a special night for me, but at the end of the day, all I\u2019m wanting is just to get two points for the team.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it\u2019s a good lesson. We will learn from it and keep getting stronger. And me personally.\u201d<\/p>\n