Sergei Murashov continues to impress with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

The 21-year-old goaltender entered the holiday break atop the American Hockey League’s leaderboard, ranking first in goals-against average (1.55 GAA) and save-percentage (.943 SV%) with his two shutouts one off the league lead in that category as well.

It didn’t matter that last Sunday’s game was the final game of a three-in-three weekend, and the final game before a break for the holidays. Murashov was dialed in for last Sunday’s game against Hershey, and he needed to be as the Penguins and Bears played a scoreless game into the second period.

“When you have guys like that you can lean on, especially right now, where we’re kind of fighting it a little bit, like scoring is not coming naturally for us,” Penguins head coach Kirk MacDonald said. “It gives us an ability to play in a low scoring game and find a way to grind out a win.”

Grinding out a win is exactly what the Penguins did Sunday, with Zach Gallant breaking the scoreless tie seven minutes into the middle frame and Matt Dumba adding to the lead early in the third period.

Meanwhile, the Penguins defense was keeping Hershey mostly to the perimeter and clearing out the net-front, allowing Murashov to do the rest.

“Yeah, they’re helping me. I’m helping them,” Murashov said of the defensemen. “They make my job easier. I’m making their job easier. And that’s how it works in team sports.”

Murashov ended last Sunday’s game with 26 saves on 27 shots, with the lone goal he allowed coming in the third period after an intended pass bounced off a skate and took an unfriendly bounce for the Penguins, making it four straight wins since returning from Pittsburgh after spending most of November in the NHL.

But for Murashov, it’s not a confidence boost from playing in the NHL that has him at the top of his game.

It’s oftentimes hard to remember Murashov is only 21 years old, with his mentality and attention to detail and preparation really separating him from his peers.

“My confidence comes from the process and from what I’m doing,” Murashov said. “It’s all about preparation. You can’t lay down on the couch for a week and show up on game day and do some unbelievable things. No, you have to be prepared. And if you’re really prepared you can just show up, kind of let everything go and play and have fun.

“So I would say, it’s not like I’m coming from Pittsburgh and having confidence. It’s all building from the summer, from working with my coaches, and in general it’s all the work you put in behind the scenes. And every day of performance, you just show how prepared (you are) for that. Because it’s all coming from there.”

While it’s obvious there’s an in-house competition between Murashov and Joel Blomqvist, who is also among the top goaltenders in the AHL this season, Murashov certainly isn’t consumed by it – or even giving the thought any attention in his mind.

“Obviously it seems like we have competition. But for me, personally, I’m just doing my job. I’m just getting better every day for myself,” Murashov said. “Yes, it’s nice to play with him, because his performance is incredible, actually, and he’s staying consistent. He’s a good guy. But for me, again, I don’t think about it. I’m living my own life.”

For now, Murashov continues to build upon his early season successes in both the NHL and AHL.

It’s no secret the starting goaltender position at the NHL level is an open competition. Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said as much in media availabilities following the Tristan Jarry trade.

It’s up to Murashov to make his case for full-time NHL work, and it’s certainly a so-far-so-good kind of a situation.

It remains to be seen if Murashov will earn his NHL call-up this season, but for now he aims to continue his strong body of work with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

“I’m focusing on staying in the moment and just playing because I love this game. And, you know, don’t really think about competition in your mind,” Murashov said. “You just think about how you can be better. And that’s it. That’s what drives me, from (my) childhood.”