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Pittsburgh columnist: Matt Murray rewards Pens' faith

 
Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Matt Murray (30) blocks a shot by the Tampa Bay Lightning as Tampa Bay Lightning center Alex Killorn (17) and Tampa Bay Lightning center Tyler Johnson (9) join the play during the first period of game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final Wednesday, May 18, 2016 in Tampa. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD  |   Times

Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Matt Murray (30) blocks a shot by the Tampa Bay Lightning as Tampa Bay Lightning center Alex Killorn (17) and Tampa Bay Lightning center Tyler Johnson (9) join the play during the first period of game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final Wednesday, May 18, 2016 in Tampa. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Published May 19, 2016

TAMPA — We might never know how close Mike Sullivan came to replacing Penguins rookie goaltender Matt Murray with Stanley Cup champion Marc-Andre Fleury in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final Monday night, but this much is certain: Murray has justified his coach's trust.

It was at the start of the second period Monday night that Sullivan told Fleury to be ready. Murray had allowed a bad goal to the Lightning's Jonathan Drouin in the final minute of the first period that tied Game 2, 2-2. There was a palpable feeling in Consol Energy Center — and maybe in the Penguins' room — that the next Tampa Bay goal would send Murray to the bench and Fleury onto the ice, perhaps for the remainder of the playoffs.

It never came in that game.

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