ESPN Stats & Information 8y

Matt Murray and Evgeni Malkin carry Penguins in Game 4

The Pittsburgh Penguins are in prime position to win the Stanley Cup, thanks to a little M & M magic from Matt Murray and Evgeni Malkin in Game 4.

The history

The Penguins will be trying to clinch a Stanley Cup at home for the first time. Their wins in 1991, 1992 and 2009 all came on the road. They’ve never previously had a chance to clinch it in their home arena

Murray’s 14 wins are one shy of the most wins by a rookie goalie in a single postseason, per research from the Elias Sports Bureau. The mark of 15 is shared by Patrick Roy (1986 Canadiens), Ron Hextall (1987 Flyers) and Cam Ward (2006 Hurricanes).

The Penguins have now outshot their opponent in 12 straight games, matching the longest postseason streak for a team in the Expansion Era (since 1968).

More Murray magic

Murray is now 5-0 with a 1.75 goals-against average after a loss this postseason, allowing two goals or fewer in four of those five starts.

Murray stood tall in the third period, stopping 11 of 12 shots in Game 4. The Sharks had their opportunities to score more than once, with eight high-danger scoring chances, per WAR-On-Ice. The Penguins had only two high-scoring chances in the final 20 minutes. The Sharks also played a physical third period, outhitting the Penguins, 10-3.

On the road again

Malkin’s goal was his fifth this postseason. All five of them have come on the road. He has two goals in his past 16 postseason games.

Malkin’s 10 career game-winning goals in the postseason rank third in Penguins history, trailing only Jaromir Jagr (14) and Mario Lemieux (11).

Phil KesselĀ had two assistsĀ in the game. He’s the second player other than Malkin or Sidney Crosby to have 10 goals and 10 assists in a single postseason within the Crosby-Malkin era. The other was Marian Hossa in 2008.

The Cole goal

Ian Cole’s first career postseason goal came in his 29th career postseason game. Cole did not score in 70 games during the 2015-16 regular season. Elias notes that he’s the first player to score his first goal of the season in the Stanley Cup finals since Justin Abdelkader in 2009, and the second Penguins player to do so, joining Jim Paek (1991).

Looking ahead

Elias research shows that teams up 3-1 in the Stanley Cup finals are 31-1 all-time. The only comeback was in 1942, when the Maple Leafs came back from a 3-0 series deficit to defeat the Red Wings.

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