Sergei Murashov to Start Penguins Preseason Opener
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goaltender will split Monday's exhibition against Buffalo with Joel Blomqvist.
Sergei Murashov will start Pittsburgh's preseason opener at home against Buffalo on Monday, with fellow goaltending prospect Joel Blomqvist scheduled to play the other half. Coach Dan Muse announced the plan after the morning skate in Cranberry.
Murashov and Blomqvist shared the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton crease last season, and both have AHL All-Star selections on their resumes. Murashov went 24-9-4 in 38 AHL games with a 2.20 goals-against average, a .919 save percentage and four shutouts. Blomqvist, an AHL All-Star in 2023-24, went 16-5-6 in 26 games with a 2.40 goals-against average, a .913 save percentage and one shutout.
Murashov also appeared in five NHL games last season, finishing 1-1-2 with a 2.56 goals-against average, an .897 save percentage and one shutout.
Forwards Blake Lizotte and Oliver Okuliar are out week to week with undisclosed injuries. Okuliar, acquired in a June trade with Florida and expected to begin the regular season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, recorded 29 points in 46 games with Skelleftea AIK in the Swedish Hockey League last season. Lizotte had 19 points in 55 NHL games.
Buffalo's travel roster includes forwards Thomas Bordeleau, Jiri Kulich and Tyson Kozak, along with defensemen Radim Mrtka and Gavin McCarthy.
Pittsburgh's morning-skate defense rotation included Harrison Brunicke, Ryan Graves, Kris Letang, Owen Pickering, Chase Pietila and Trevor van Riemsdyk.
