Murray’s injury makes battle for goaltender role uncertain
If Marc-Andre Fleury encounters any sort of uncertainty regarding the recent change atop the Penguins goaltending depth chart, perhaps he could think back to one of the 653 NHL games he has appeared in and reminisce a little.
Or conjure up memories from one of the two days he has had with the Stanley Cup.
Or remember that he has been preparing for NHL training camps for about as long as some of those at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry this weekend have been playing organized hockey.
Fact is, the Penguins are better-positioned to sustain an injury to a goaltender than pretty much every other NHL team, a theory that now will be tested after the team announced Saturday that Matt Murray would miss 3-6 weeks with a broken hand.
“I’ve been doing this for a few years, and it’s just about trying to get back to rhythm, find my comfort level out there, get the timing back,” Fleury said Sunday after practice. “Use those scrimmages, those preseason games to do it and get ready for the beginning of the season.”
For Fleury, of course, the biggest issue will be his health. He had two concussions last season and Sunday called this training camp “a work in progress.” But expecting Fleury to struggle with this assignment would be like expecting a smooth morning commute around here — it’s not wise.
“It’s not something I was really thinking about,” Fleury said. “I’m just trying to get back into my game shape. It’s unfortunate for Matty. You never wish for a goalie or anyone else on the team to get hurt.”
It’s too early to tell what could happen to the Penguins goaltender situation long term. General manager Jim Rutherford said the Penguins expect to learn more about Murray’s hand in the next 10-14 days. Murray’s predicted regular-season games missed can be anywhere from one to 11.
No matter what, Rutherford said, the decision of when to bring Murray back won’t be rushed.
“The biggest thing for us, we don’t need to push this too quick,” Rutherford said. “We’re early in the season. We have good goaltending. Let’s make sure it’s 100 percent.”
Bonino’s foot not ‘serious’
Sullivan expressed optimism Sunday regarding the condition of center Nick Bonino’s left foot. Bonino absorbed a shot there in an intra-squad scrimmage and crumpled to the ice. He eventually hopped to the dressing room at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex on one leg.
Sullivan did not have an update after practice and said he expected to know more by today, but he does not consider the injury serious.
“We’ll see how he is overnight,” Sullivan said. “He obviously took a shot in the foot. I don’t think it’s anything serious. I think it just hit him in an unfortunate spot. We’ll have more of an update [Monday].”
If Bonino is out for any significant period of time, it could complicate the Penguins center position. Sidney Crosby is at the World Cup of Hockey, Evgeni Malkin’s run there ended Saturday night, and Matt Cullen has yet to practice.
Eric Fehr, with more than 1,400 NHL faceoffs taken, is atop that list. Kevin Porter handled fourth-line center duties for a stretch last season, and Jake Guentzel is one of the top forward prospects in the organization.
Jarry makes impression
Believe it or not, Tristan Jarry and Matt Murray always have been close, dating to when they were hot-shot goaltending prospects. So Jarry isn’t going to celebrate the thumb injury to Murray that will keep him out 3-6 weeks, even though Jarry could wind up as Fleury’s backup. What Jarry will do, however, is whatever it takes to win that job.
“It’s really unfortunate for Matt,” Jarry said. “He had a great end to the season last year, and it’s one of those things where you kind of don’t really expect that to happen; no one expects that to happen throughout the staff and the players.
“It’s just one of those things that you always have to be prepared for and ready when you’re called upon.”
Thus far in camp, Jarry has looked more like a former second-round pick — which he is — than the guy who ended the 2015-16 AHL season on the bench. Rutherford name-checked him Saturday, and Sullivan followed that a day later.
“I think he’s had a solid couple of days here,” Sullivan said. “Tristan’s a very talented goalie. Handles the puck really well. I think he has good habits. He takes up a lot of the net. He’s a talented goalie.
“As he matures, he’ll gain a better understanding of the game and just the consistent compete level that it takes to play at the NHL level.”
Aches, pains and plans
Bryan Rust is still dealing with a broken finger sustained in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final, and Oskar Sundqvist’s ailment is undisclosed. Also missing a third consecutive day of camp was Cullen. Their dayto-day statuses remain unchanged, Sullivan said.
Dominik Simon missed practice Saturday. He said upon returning Sunday that he was ill with a stomach bug, and team doctors advised him to not practice.
Maatta back today
With Finland eliminated from the World Cup of Hockey, Olli Maatta will practice for the first time this morning, Sullivan said.
“We gave him the weekend off,” he said. “He’s played a lot of hockey here over the last couple weeks.”