After two straight losses on the road, some wondered if the Pittsburgh Penguins would switch goalies to change momentum. It's not going to happen.
Coach Mike Sullivan said that Matt Murray will remain between the pipes for Thursday's critical Game 5 in Pittsburgh.
"I know that Matt's excited to play tonight," Sullivan said, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "He certainly has had success here at home. We're hoping that we have our best game in front of him."
Murray gave up four goals in the first two home games but eight goals in two losses in Nashville. Some wondered if Sullivan would turn to Marc Andre-Fleury, who has played in 15 games this postseason, serving as the starter when Murray was injured early in the playoffs.
But Sullivan pointed out that Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne also performed better at home than on the road.
"Both goalies have performed well and helped their teams win in their respective home buildings," Sullivan said, according to the newspaper. "Our focus is really more concerned about just that one game in front of us. I know that our guys understand the importance of that short-term focus, just staying in the moment, and I think it's arguably the most important for the goaltending position because of the importance of that position. That's where our focus needs to be."
Sullivan added that forward Nick Bonino did not take part in Thursday's optional morning skate and was a game-time decision. He did not play in Games 3 and 4 after taking a P.K. Subban slapshot off his foot in Game 2. He is day to day.
Colin Wilson could be back in the Predators' lineup for Game 5.
Wilson took part in the team's morning skate at PPG Paints Arena and came off before P.A. Parenteau, who said he would not play. Wilson missed the first four games of the series with an unspecified lower-body injury.
The 27-year-old forward scored 12 goals in the regular season for Nashville.