Penguins’ Matt Murray Takes Hit To Head In 7-1 Loss To Capitals, Leaves Game Early

The Pittsburgh Penguins fell to the Washington Capitals 7-1 at Verizon Center on Wednesday, and Matt Murray probably felt that loss sting even more than his teammates did.

Penguins’ Matt Murray Takes Hit To Head In 7-1 Loss To Capitals, Leaves Game Early

The Penguins goalie left the game with 24 seconds remaining in the first period following a scramble near the net when he lost his helmet and was hit in the face by teammate Evgeni Malkin’s stick.

Malkin went to shove Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner and hit Murray, whose mask came off.

Murray did not return but said he went through the NHL’s concussion protocol and was medically cleared.

“I’m fine,” Murray said. “I had to go through the protocol, which I think is a little bit unnecessary. I think I was fine. They took me off for the hit that knocked my helmet off. After that, it was just coach’s decision to keep me out.”

Marc-Andre Fleury came on to replace Murray, and allowed a goal to T.J. Oshie with 7.9 seconds remaining as Pittsburgh trailed 3-0. Fleury allowed five goals on 25 shots.

Coach Mike Sullivan stated his decision regarding his decision to take Murray out of the game: “I thought it made sense for a lot of reasons.”

Murray made 12 saves for the Penguins (10-4-2). The goalie missed the start of the last playoffs due to a concussion and the start of this regular season with a broken hand from the World Cup of Hockey.

Oshie opened scoring with a shorthanded goal off a rebound at 7:32 of the first period. Nicklas Backstrom then made it 2-0 at 17:30 of the first with his goal on the rush from the right circle.

Oshie netted his second on Fleury at the end of the first.

Dmitry Orlov scored at 5:19 of the second period to make it 4-0. Justin Williams then scored on the power play at 5:37 of the third period for a 5-0 lead, and Alex Ovechkin netted his eighth goal of the season at 10:26 to make it 6-0.

Braden Holtby made 25 saves for the Capitals (10-4-2).

Phil Kessel scored Pittsburgh’s only goal at 16:28 of the third. Backstrom scored his second at 16:58 to make it 7-1. He has scored in consecutive games after scoring once in his first 14.

The game marked the Penguins’ worst loss at Washington since Jan. 2, 1989, when it lost 8-0.

“These games are humbling,” Sullivan said. “We were embarrassed out there tonight, all of us, and it’s humbling when you go through it. My hope is that we learn from it and make sure that it doesn’t happen again.”

The Penguins will next visit the New York Islanders on Friday, while the Capitals will host the Detroit Red Wings that day.

SAN JOSE, CA – JUNE 12: Matt Murray #30 of the Pittsburgh Penguins makes a save against the San Jose Sharks in Game Six of the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Final at SAP Center on June 12, 2016 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)