FanPost

Pittsburgh's goalie woes




Whether it's just a goaltending issue, or just early season woes the Pens have a goaltending issue as of right now. Murray, who has faced 65 shots in 2 games has only saved 54 of them with a 5.45 Goals against average and a .831 save percentage. Murray, also being the penguins star goaltender since the late 2015-2016 season, and has not looked back since. The Penguins have not gave a chance to their backup goaltender to see how he played Casey DeSmith, who started his career with the Pens' ECHL affiliate the Wheeling Nailers whom he only played 2 or 3 games for before getting called up to the AHL in the 2015-16 season. DeSmith, who has played only 14 games in his NHL career has faced 356 shots and has saved 328 of those shot with a 2.4 goals against average and a .921 save percentage in his NHL career.

Although Murray does have more experience in the NHL then DeSmith and is younger by a couple of years you would think that the organization would give DeSmith a shot to see how he could help the Penguins with their goaltending woes when Murray isn't doing so hot such as right now, yes Murray can't be blamed for everything because the Pens' defense hasn't helped Murray out much leaving him and the offense to outplay each team on an offensive and goaltending scale. you would believe with the signing of defensemen Jack Johnson who is a veteran much like Kris Letang over the offseason you would think that the defensive core would be a lot stronger, yet it is very weak, there could be many reasons for this such as Jack Johnson hasn't got adjusted to the penguins style of play, or because the lines that the coaching staff has put together, etc. This being so the defense has to be blamed for having been out scored 11 to 8 in 2 games.

The Penguins which have been forced to outplay teams in the offensive prospective haven't done so, although it is early and they did outplay the Capitals offensively they did not to Montreal who is a much weaker team to the Caps who are the defending Stanley Cup champs. The Penguins who have scored 8 goals on 63 shots in 2 games have played well offensively on a normal scale but with how their defense is they need to score more than that, yes that means the Pens may have a 4 goals per game average as of right now have a 5.5 goals against which obviously is a greater number than their goals for, this being said with the time they have off should work on their defense mostly and try to fix their issues there, but until then we will have to wait and see what the Pens bring to the ice on Thursday versus Fleury and the Vegas Golden Knights.

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