From behind his mask, Penguins goalie Matt Murray watched as Alex Killorn raced toward him at top speed. The Lightning forward had blown past Murray’s teammate, Brian Dumoulin, at the Tampa Bay line to gain free and clear access to the Pens’ net. The Thunder Bay native was the only obstacle between Killorn and a certain go-ahead goal.
Murray coiled. Killorn fired. The puck glanced off the rookie’s blocker and bounded harmlessly away.
If the black and gold go on to defeat Tampa Bay in the Eastern Conference Finals, Murray’s huge save in the waning moments of the second period may well be the tipping point.