The Penguins are expected to turn to Sergei Murashov against the Golden Knights on Saturday, a move that would give Pittsburgh a fresh look as it tries to arrest a 1-4-1 slide. It is a tough assignment on the second night of a back-to-back, but one that also offers a clear chance to reset after a difficult stretch.
Pittsburgh arrive in Las Vegas having lost 5-2 to the Colorado Avalanche on Friday after leading 2-0, while Vegas beat the Calgary Flames 6-2 on Thursday. That leaves the Penguins facing a team that has opened strongly at 7-2-0, with Saturday’s meeting at T-Mobile Arena shaping up as a serious test of where this Pittsburgh group stands right now.
Murashov looks set for the call
Dan Muse was set to make the starting-goalie decision official at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, but the expectation is that Murashov will get the nod. For a Penguins team searching for stability, the decision makes sense in the context of a back-to-back and a road trip that has already asked plenty of them.
The bigger issue is not just the goalie choice, but whether Pittsburgh can tighten up in front of him. They have shown they can start quickly — as they did against Colorado — but they have also shown how costly it can be when a game slips away. Against a Vegas side that has been strong early in the season, there is very little room for those swings.
Penguins need a cleaner response
This is also a matchup that carries a wider historical edge for Pittsburgh. The Penguins have never lost a season series to Vegas, and they have won seven of their last 11 meetings, dating back to Jan. 7, 2020. Last March, Sidney Crosby had a two-goal performance against the Golden Knights, another reminder that Pittsburgh have found ways to trouble this opponent before.
Still, past results will not protect them here. Vegas have started well, and Pittsburgh need more than history and reputation to slow a home team that has been producing goals and carrying momentum.
The other point of interest is Egor Chinakhov, who was being evaluated for a lower-body injury. Muse was also due to update his status, adding another layer of uncertainty to a Penguins team that already looks stretched by the schedule.
For Pittsburgh, the objective is straightforward: get through the back-to-back, find a steadier defensive game and give Murashov a platform to settle in. If they can do that, they give themselves a chance. If they cannot, this road trip could become even more difficult.
