Rookie goaltender Sergei Murashov made his highly anticipated NHL debut for the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday, November 9, stopping 24 of 27 shots in a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. The 21-year-old became the fifth-youngest goaltender to debut with the Penguins in the past 25 years. Despite the defeat, Murashov received strong fan support and made several key saves.
Sergei Murashov's NHL debut arrived on November 9, 2025, as the Pittsburgh Penguins hosted the Los Angeles Kings at PPG Paints Arena. At 21 years and 222 days old, Murashov became the fifth-youngest goaltender to start for the Penguins in the last 25 years. Fans showed their enthusiasm with signs during warmups and loud cheers when his name was announced in the starting lineup.
The game began with Pittsburgh taking the lead in the first period when Tommy Novak scored off a precise pass from Evgeni Malkin, who entered tied for the NHL lead in assists. Kings captain Anze Kopitar tied it on a power-play goal from a sharp-angled shot. In the second period, Anthony Mantha netted his eighth goal of the season, giving the Penguins a 2-1 edge and highlighting their league-leading power play. Murashov shone with a diving glove save on Quinton Byfield and strong penalty-kill stops.
However, the Kings rallied in the third period, with Corey Perry and Kevin Fiala scoring to secure a 3-2 victory. Murashov turned aside 24 of 27 shots but reflected on the team's effort amid a demanding schedule—their third game in four days. "Obviously, it's not the result I wanted, we wanted," Murashov said. "Yes, it's a special night for me, but at the end of the day, all I'm wanting is just to get two points for the team."
Penguins forward Bryan Rust praised the rookie: "He’s obviously an unbelievable goalie. You saw it tonight. He made some big saves for us." Head coach Dan Muse noted Murashov's preparation and competitiveness, adding that the team strayed from defensive details in the third. Prior to the call-up, Murashov earned AHL Goaltender of the Month for October, ranking fourth in wins (5), third in goals-against average (1.73), and fifth in save percentage (.931) this season. He posted a 12-3 record with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, including a 10-game rookie win streak.
Murashov's mentor, Evgenii Peretrukhin, traveled six hours by car to attend after flight cancellations due to a government shutdown. "You do not even imagine how much he did to become a Pittsburgh Penguin," Peretrukhin said. The Penguins, coming off a shootout loss to New Jersey the previous day, earned one point from the weekend and now prepare for the NHL Global Series in Stockholm against the Nashville Predators.