Penguins fans welcome Murray back to Pittsburgh with huge ovation

Pittsburgh Penguins fans welcomed Matt Murray back with open arms and a loud chant.

The Ottawa Senators goalie, who helped the Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 2016 and 2017, was back in the Steel City on Thursday.
Murray was scratched from the game due to a non-COVID illness, but watched from the press box. With just over 13 minutes remaining in the first period, the Penguins played a tribute video to their former goalie.

"I have so much respect for Matt and what he's accomplished in this League, what he accomplished when he was a Pittsburgh Penguin," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. "He was a big part of the Stanley Cup championships that we won here. He's a great teammate. He's a good person.
Chants of "Mur-ray! Mur-ray!" filled the arena as he stood and acknowledged the crowd, waving and placing a hand over his heart.

"We went through this organization together. He was a huge part of this organization. You see what he did. He brought the organization two Cups," Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry said. "He was a big part of it. I think it's great he gets to come back here... He was a great friend. He showed me a lot, just being able to move up from him and learn from him. It was great and was an experience I'll remember for my whole life."
Murray played five seasons for the Penguins before being traded to the Senators in 2020.
"Quite honestly, I root for him from a distance," Sullivan said. "Obviously, when he's not playing against the Penguins. But on other nights, he's a guy that I care about."
-NHL.com Independent Correspondent Wes Crosby contributed to this report.