With 47 saves in a 3-2 win in Game 3, a win that put the Penguins up 2-1 in the best-of-7 series, Murray proved once again that he has the goods, that he's not looking behind him or over his shoulder, that he isn't going anywhere no matter Fleury's status.
"He was for sure the best player on the ice," Penguins forward Patric Hornqvist said. "Without him, there's no way we win this game."
Nobody on either side would debate that.
The Capitals were the better team. They outshot the Penguins 49-23 and finished with an 85-36 advantage in total shot attempts. Murray and some opportunistic Pittsburgh offense rendered it all moot.
But mostly it was Murray, who has been showing the same confidence and poise in the Stanley Cup Playoffs that so many have seen from him since last season, his first as a pro, when he was dominating in the American Hockey League and setting a shutout-streak record at 300-plus minutes.
"I think it's his swagger, the way he handles himself," Penguins left wing Carl Hagelin said. "He doesn't get rattled in net. That's when you know he's the real deal. He's playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time and he's showing up every night."
This was the first night he had to show up with Fleury casting a big shadow, but that was cool with Murray.
Murray said he loves having Fleury around because of the levity he brings on the bench during stoppages in play. Murray also said he bounces ideas back and forth with Fleury, that he talks to him about plays and saves, and potentially ways he could have done it better.
In fact, it sounds like the last thing on Murray's mind was his job as the Penguins' No. 1.
"My mindset stays the same," Murray said. "I have to bring my 'A' game every night if we want to win. Everything else is noise."