Matt Murray’s .899 save percentage in the regular season and his recent struggles in camp have left a lot to be desired.
Tristan Jarry, on the other hand, has had a marvelous training camp and was named an All-star this season.
The decision should be easy then, right? Tristan Jarry should start game one against the Montreal Canadiens.
Well, to quote Lee Corso, “not so fast my friends.”
The argument for Matt Murray to start is that he’s had playoff experience and, more importantly, playoff success.
Unless we’re talking about sex, experience is overrated.
In 2003, Jean-Sebastien Giguere’s first go-around in the Stanley Cup Playoffs saw him win the Conn Smythe trophy. He posted a .945 save percentage and a 1.62 goals against average.
Cam Ward won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2006. It was the same year that he made his first ever playoff start. He went 15-8 with a .920 save percentage and a 2.14 GAA.
Matt Murray had never started a playoff game prior to 2016, and in his first two years he boasted save percentages of .923 and .937.
Last year, Jordan Binnigton had a .914 save percentage and a 2.46 goals against average en route to winning the Stanley Cup. He had never before started a Stanley Cup Playoff game.
The past is the past. If Matt Murray isn’t up to snuff right now, then Tristan Jarry should be between the pipes on August 1st. Experience is overrated.