SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins goaltender Matt Murray has been selected as the CCM/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Mar. 8, 2015.
Murray rewrote the AHL record book last week while helping keep the Penguins in the race for the lead in the East Division.
On Saturday afternoon, Murray stopped all 32 shots in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s 3-0 win at league-leading Manchester. It was his fourth consecutive shutout and his ninth of the year, tying a 72-year-old record for the most in a season by an AHL rookie goaltender. Then on Sunday in Springfield, Murray established an all-time league mark by extending his shutout streak to 304 minutes and 11 seconds – more than 35 minutes better than the previous record – and finished with 32 saves in a 4-1 victory over the Falcons, his seventh win in a row and 11th in his last 12 decisions.
In 30 appearances for the Penguins this season, Murray is 18-8-2 and leads the AHL in goals-against average (1.57), save percentage (.940) and shutouts (nine). A third-round draft pick by Pittsburgh in 2012, the 20-year-old rookie from Thunder Bay, Ont., played four junior seasons at Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) before making his professional debut with Wilkes-Barre at the end of the 2013-14 campaign.
In recognition of his achievement, Murray will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Penguins home game.
