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Sergei Murashov calls out Penguins teammates following yet another blown lead
Penguins rookie goalie Sergei Murashov took shots at his teammates after yet another blown lead, saying the team needs to start playing 60-minute hockey.
Yesterday's loss marked the second consecutive night in which the Pittsburgh Penguins saw a third-period, multi-goal lead slip away.
The team lost 5-4 in overtime to a Utah Mammoth side at PPG Paints Arena on Sunday despite leading by three goals after 40 minutes. Dylan Guenther scored the winner with 42 seconds left in overtime.
What the Penguins did the day before vs. the Sharks
The day before, it also happened, as the Pens blew a four-goal lead in a 6-5 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks.
The Penguins have lost five straight games over the last eight days, with four of these being games in which their opponents have come back from a multi-goal deficit.
Why Sergei Murashov took the liberty to call out his teammates
Rookie goalie Sergei Murashov laid it on the line following Sunday's game, citing the inability of the team to realize a full 60 minutes of play. Murashov had 32 saves out of a possible 37 shots and dropped to a record of 1-1-2 with the loss.
"It's the NHL," Murashov said. "Even if you're leading 3-0 and feeling good, it doesn't mean you've already won the game. You have to play all 60 minutes."
- Sergei Murashov
- Sergei Murashov
The Penguins were outplayed for most of Sunday's game. Utah controlled the puck, tallying 37 shots to Pittsburgh's 16 shots and 78 attempted shots to 30 attempted shots.
Defensive player Brett Kulak and goalie Stuart Skinner are not participating in games due to ongoing immigration matters following their trade with Edmonton.
Pittsburgh is now 1-9 in games extending beyond regulation, with a record of 1-4 in overtime and 0-5 in shootouts. They are presently riding a five-game losing streak, which is their longest since an 0-5-1 skid from Oct. 18-29, 2024.
A tough challenge awaits the team in trying to find a way to keep leads and become consistent, or they will struggle for the rest of the season.
Previously on HockeyUnplugged
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 15 | 208 ANSWERS Sergei Murashov calls out Penguins teammates following yet another blown lead Was Sergei Murashov right to call out his teammates? | ||
| Yes | 188 | 90.4 % |
| No | 20 | 9.6 % |
| List of polls | ||