CRANBERRY — “Don’t read too much into things.”

Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Muse wore a big smile as he cautioned the assembled reporters following Friday’s morning skate before the Penguins host the Buffalo Sabres at PPG Paints Arena.

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Muse did have one surprise in store. Rather than presumed starting goalie Tristan Jarry playing the entire game, as is customary in the final preseason tuneup, Jarry will share the net with top prospect Sergei Murashov.

Murashov, 21, has been spectacular in the preseason. In parts of two games (over 57 minutes, he has posted a .941 save percentage, including more than a handful of acrobatic saves.

Murashov was a bit noisy in his first performance, but stopped 17 of 18 shots, standing up against the Montreal Canadiens‘ barrage in Game 1. Then, Murashov played the first two periods of the “Marc-Andre Fleury” game last weekend. Murashov stopped 12 of 13 shots he faced in that Fleury game and was again nearly unbeatable.

It wasn’t supposed to be Murashov’s time just yet. After all, during the offseason, general manager Kyle Dubas acquired Arturs Silovs for a fourth-round pick based on the premise that the Penguins had the runway that Silovs needed to get his young NHL career on track.

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Silovs was good against the Detroit Red Wings, but shaky in his other performance against the Columbus Blue Jackets, allowing a couple of long-range goals. Those long goals were a problem with Vancouver and Vancouver’s AHL team, Abbotsford.

Also, Murashov very well could be a special goalie.

At worst, it’s a chance to get Murashov a bit more NHL experience. At best…could one of the top two be in trouble?

Harrison Brunicke & Ben Kindel

Juniors or NHL for both players, and both are in the lineup Friday night. It’s a big step for both to play in the final preseason game with the NHL crew, including Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Erik Karlsson.

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Matt Dumba and Ryan Graves took part in the extra on-ice workout following the skate on Friday, which is always a sure sign they won’t play. We can confirm Brunicke will play.

Kindel remained on the ice with assistant coach Nick Bonino, working on faceoffs but took line rushes in the optional morning skate.

Avery Hayes also took rushes, mixing on the fourth line with Blake Lizotte and Connor Dewar. Filip Hallander also rotated in over the last couple of practices.

Dubas flatly stated in his pre-camp press conference that young players would be given the right of way, and he would “deal with the rippling effect” of moving aside veterans.

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It seems a handful or more have taken him up on the offer.

A couple of more rookies could (should) have been included–notably Owen Pickering and Tristan Broz–but final decisions are looming. The Penguins could have as many as seven, eventually eight rookies (Rutger McGroarty) in the lineup.

There will be at least one prospect on the opening night roster: Koivunen.

The likelihood is that at least one of Brunicke and Kindel is on the roster, too. Kindel is making a very strong case to stick around. Of course, both Brunicke and Kindel are eligible for the nine-game tryout, in which they get to play up to nine NHL games before their entry-level contract kicks in and they burn the first of three years.

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Dubas wanted young players, and it seems he’ll get a few, even as he left a couple more behind, for now.

The post Will Murashov Steal a Spot? Penguins Open Door for Several Prospects appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now.

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