After long-awaited debut, Sergei Murashov’s heartfelt message shows why Penguins fans already love him

Sergei Murashov’s long-awaited NHL debut on Sunday may not have ended in victory, but it marked the arrival of a promising young goaltender who already looks poised to be part of Pittsburgh’s future.

The 21-year-old netminder stood tall in a narrow 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings, turning aside 24 shots in an impressive first outing. What stood out more than the numbers, though, was the calm confidence he carried and the gratitude he showed afterward — a refreshing reminder of what it means to play for a city that lives and breathes hockey.Following his debut, Murashov took a moment to thank the Penguins fans for their unwavering support during what was undoubtedly one of the most nerve-wracking nights of his young career.

“Fans were really, really supportive for me. I felt it, and truly appreciate it. Definitely, it's a great building, great city, great people here,” Murashov said with a smile, clearly soaking in the moment that every young goaltender dreams of.

Sergei Murashov earns praise from Bryan Rust after debut performance

While the Penguins couldn’t pull off the win, Murashov’s performance didn’t go unnoticed — especially by his teammates. Veteran forward Bryan Rust was quick to applaud the young Russian for his composure under pressure.

“He's obviously an unbelievable goalie. You saw it tonight. He made some big saves for us. I think we would have liked to be a little bit better in front of him and not give them some of those Grade-As that we did,” Rust said.

That kind of praise from a seasoned player speaks volumes about the impact Murashov made in his first NHL appearance. Even in defeat, he earned the trust of the locker room and the admiration of fans. With Tristan Jarry sidelined, the opportunity for Murashov to log more ice time could come sooner than expected.At just 21, he’s still developing, but his poise, reflexes, and humility have already made an impression. The Penguins have started the 2025–26 season strong with a 9-5-3 record, and as Murashov continues to grow, Pittsburgh may have found another cornerstone for its future in net — one who not only plays with skill but carries himself with heart.More NHL coverageOilers star Connor McDavid admits truth after 9-1 humiliation against Avalanche: “It was humbling”“We didn’t try to cheat": Sidney Crosby can’t hide frustration as Penguins suffer heartbreaking shootout loss to red-hot Devils