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Rookie goalies with a nice “ring” to them

By Scott Esposito

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 19: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers tends net against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden on January 19, 2020 in New York City. The Blue Jackets defeated the Rangers 2-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 19: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers tends net against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden on January 19, 2020 in New York City. The Blue Jackets defeated the Rangers 2-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Matt Murray #30 of the Pittsburgh Penguins. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Matt Murray, Pittsburgh Penguins, 2015-16

Murray wasn’t Pittsburgh’s choice to start the postseason. It was Marc-Andre Fleury, who won the Stanley Cup as the team’s starter in 2009. But Fleury sustained a concussion late in the season and missed the first two rounds of the postseason.

Murray himself got injured just before the playoffs and missed the first two matches of the opening round, forcing third-stringer Jeff Zatkoff into action.

Ranger fans remember this series well as they split the two games in Pittsburgh with Zatkoff in net.  With the rookie Murray returning for game three, Blueshirts faithful were confident that a first round win was inevitable.

Instead, Murray backstopped the Penguins to three straight wins, allowing only four goals and eliminating the Rangers in five games.

He went on to post a 15-6 record, 2.08 GAA and 9.23 SP to help the Pens win their fourth Stanley Cup.  In an unusual note, since he only played 13 regular season game in 2015-16, he was still a rookie the next season when he led the Penguins to their second straight championship, making him the only goalie to backstop his team to two Stanley Cups as a rookie both years.

The next two goalies won their only Stanley Cup rings as rookies.

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