Mark Madden: Penguins fans' jeering of Matt Murray was despicable

I’ve been a Penguins fan since I was 6. Working in journalism has made me hide that occasionally. But I’ve never done a great job at it, or even felt the need to.

On Sunday, I was embarrassed to be a Penguins fan.

Matt Murray struggled in goal at game’s start. He conceded just 11 seconds in, and again less than two minutes later. Boston’s lead grew to 3-0 by the 15:07 mark.

When Murray made saves, the sellout crowd at PPG Paints Arena showered him with loud mock applause on several occasions.

That’s despicable. There’s no other word to describe it.

The Penguins have won two Stanley Cups with Murray in goal. He gives maximum effort. He leaves it all out there.

Murray deserves better.

Those in attendance paid for their tickets. They can do as they please.

But perhaps it would be better if those who booed spent their money elsewhere. Wait for the Steelers to disappoint you again. See what JuJu Smith-Kardashian posted on Instagram. Stare at your phone while the puck is in play. Go watch that .151 hitter the Pirates signed.

The Penguins players were upset. Many said so.

Murray’s comment: “No comment.”

Those booing probably have Duck hats. They likely hope Ben Roethlisberger doesn’t recover from his elbow surgery.

That’s the kind of stupid, fair-weather, front-running sports ghetto Pittsburgh has become.

Murray let his play respond to the “fans.” He didn’t allow a goal after Boston’s third. He made 24 saves over the second and third periods as the Penguins rallied to win 4-3 despite being outshot 37-22.

Murray has struggled sporadically this season, partly because he is playing too deep in his crease.

But when the Bruins crowded the blue paint, as they prefer to, Murray navigated the traffic effectively and seized his angles. He absorbed pucks comfortably. As much as anyone, Murray won the game.

Initially, Murray seemed rattled when he lost his grip on the Penguins’ No. 1 goaltending job.

Lately, he has fought to reclaim it.

In his last five starts, Murray has stopped 67 of 69 third-period shots. He won all those games.

That doesn’t dislodge Tristan Jarry from the driver’s seat.

But it should put Murray back in the frame.

The ideal situation for the Penguins is for Jarry and Murray to both play well and push each other. Coach Mike Sullivan doesn’t have to select a starting goalie in perpetuity. He needs to properly navigate the twists and turns, as he has done so far.

Sullivan was smart to give Murray a second straight start Sunday after Murray made 28 saves to win at Detroit on Friday. Murray’s play rated that, and Jarry had allowed three goals in each of his last six starts. His comfort level needs shrunk a bit. If I’m Sullivan, I start Murray at Philadelphia on Tuesday.

None of this necessarily affects the Penguins’ long-term goaltending plans. The club is unlikely to pay Murray what he wants long-term. If compromise isn’t reached, Murray very probably departs before the end of the 2020-21 season.

The fans’ treatment of Murray on Sunday has little to do with how he played on the day, or whether or not the Penguins won.

It has everything to do with respect.

Murray was in goal the last two times the Penguins won the Stanley Cup. He got back-to-back shutouts to close out the 2017 final. He has a lot of locker-room cachet, as evidence by the united reaction of his teammates to the fans’ hostility. Murray’s accomplishments are many. His desire and commitment have never been in question.

Respecting that would preclude you from juvenile banality like mock applauding when Murray makes a routine save.

Instead you chose to be petty. Tom Petty.

Jeering Murray is the kind of nonsense they pull in Philadelphia. That’s what fans of losing teams do. Be better.