Sports stats



AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Murray Sets Rookie Record as Pens Blank Phantoms

March 22, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Matt Murray made 32 saves to collect his 10th shutout of the season as the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins put an end to a three-game winless streak with a 3-0 victory over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Sunday at PPL Center.

Murray became just the fourth goaltender in American Hockey League history reach 10 shutouts in a season, while also breaking the record for shutouts in a season by a rookie. The previous mark was set by Gordie Bell of the Buffalo Bison during the 1942-43 season and later tied by Bridgeport's Wade Dubielewicz in 2003-04.

With the game scoreless in the second period, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton went up, 2-0, in quick fashion on back-to-back goals by Tom Kostopoulos and Bobby Farnham. After the Penguins won a battle in the corner of the Phantoms zone, Kostopoulos circled off the near wall with the puck and let loose with a wrist shot that beat Lehigh Valley goalie Rob Zepp over the blocker at 11:15.

Farnham doubled Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's lead 63 seconds later when he outraced a defender to a loose puck at the near dot before hammering a shot that found the top right corner of the net for his fifth goal of the season.

Down by two to start the third period, Lehigh Valley outshoot Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 13-4, in the frame, but would be unable to get the puck past Murray. Defenseman Scott Harrington completed the scoring for the Penguins with an empty-net goal with 0.8 seconds left in regulation.

Murray's record goes to 21-8-3 on the season as the 20-year-old is 16-2-1 in his last 19 starts. Zepp turned aside 16-of-18 in net for Lehigh Valley.

The Penguins head to Binghamton on Friday, March 27 to face the Senators at 7:05 pm. Listen in on WILK Newsradio or watch online at AHL Live.

Individual tickets for all Penguins home games are available at the Mohegan Sun Arena Box Office, online at TicketMaster.com, or by calling 800-745-3000.

Check out the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Statistics

• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...

American Hockey League Stories from March 22, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central