TAMPA, Fla. – The Pittsburgh Penguins are turning to rookie goaltender Matt Murray with their season on the line against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final.
Coach Mike Sullivan made the decision Tuesday, with the Penguins facing elimination for the first time this postseason. Tampa Bay holds a 3-2 series lead, and one more victory send the defending conference champions to the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight year.
Murray started the first four games of the series. Marc-Andre Fleury replaced him during the third period of Game 4, then started and allowed four goals in a 4-3 overtime loss in Game 5.
Sullivan said he was switching back to Murray because "just like we make all our lineup decisions, we try to put players on the ice that we think give us the best chance to win."
Before Game 5, Fleury had not started a game since March 31, when he suffered a concussion.
Murray is 9-4 with a .923 save percentage this postseason.
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