Between The Pipes: Sergei Murashov

After practice in October, after a weekend road trip, Olde City Sports sat down with Pittsburgh Penguins/Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins netminder, Sergei Murashov. Playing in Russia to how he communicates with his teammates during the game to who he watches as a goaltender were spoken upon.

Prior to turning to the professional ranks and signing his ELC with the Pittsburgh Penguins in July of 2024, he played his entire career in Russia. He played in Russian U16 and U17 for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. He played in a total of 28 games for both leagues and posted 2.81 GAA. In the 2020-2021 season, Murashov got a taste of the MHL, suiting up for 8 games for Loko Yaroslavl and posting a 2.12 GAA and .909 save percentage. In the 2021-2022 season, Murashov played in 41 games for Loko-76 Yaroslavl and posted a 2.49 GAA and .927 save percentage. In the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 seasons, he played in a total of 71 games for Loko Yaroslavl and posted an average 1.78 GAA and .939 save percentage. Murashov did play in seven games in the KHL for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl during his time in Russia and posted a 1.42 GAA and .936 save percentage. Murashov spoke on the differences between playing in Russia and playing in North America. “I think just in general, it's pretty same, but I would say in Russia, the game is more defense. It's a bit of a different culture, like players attitude to game. 
I think in the US it’s more free and in Russia it's more about like D and you spend much more time with your team and preparing than in the US, it's more like on your own”

Photo Credit: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Murashov played in the ECHL and AHL, which is critical for a player’s development, especially in the goaltending position. It allows them to learn how the game flows and ebbs at each level, which inevitably gets faster and stronger each level moved up. Murashov worked with former Wheeling Nailers Head Coach, Derek Army and current Assistant Coach, Mitch Giguere and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Head Coach Kirk MacDonald and Assistant Coach Nick Luukko, along with former Assistant Coach Sheldon Brookbank. He also worked with Wheeling Nailers Goaltending Coach Karel Popper and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Goaltending Coach Kain Tisi, during the course of the 2024-2025 season. Murashov speaks on what he learned from all the coaches and how he integrated into his game this season. “I'm grateful for all our coaches here and in Wheeling, I would say we are all in the same page. It's a process. We work a lot with Karel [Popper] last year and we were really detailed with technique and positioning with Kainer [Kain Tisi]. It's also really good mental work, how we can be in our best shape with your head. Just again, different details that solve the process, but it's a pretty far thorough process, just always communication and listening to each other how you can be better.” Murashov was part of the Nailers longest winning streak during the 2024-2025 season, which was 13 games, in which he was the goaltender for eight out of the 13 games.

Every player, including goaltenders, have strengths and Murashov has shown that he is a very skilled goaltender, so far in his young career. He set a franchise record in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for a rookie netminder with the longest winning streak at 10 games in the 2024-2025 season. Murashov earned AHL Goaltender of the Week and Goaltender of the Month at the beginning of the 2025-2026 season, before being recalled to Pittsburgh in light of an injury to Tristan Jarry. During his time in Pittsburgh this season, so far, he posted a shutout in his first win, joining only one other netminder in Pittsburgh history to do the same, Jeff Zatkoff. “I love this game. I love my position, and playing, and having fun. The internal feeling of playing, of winning versus what drives me and I trust with this feeling.”

Photo Credit: Wheeling Nailers

Goaltenders have different practice habits for the upcoming games and the preparation that goes into their game, reflects their play. Murashov is no exception and uses a unique method to help him prepare and practice. “Imagine it's a game, and doing your best preparing yourself, using FaceTime time as a preparation for the night before. Again, it just what you repeatedly do, and it’s just good habits which are you doing like small details and just being consistent with them business.”

Communication between the team on the bench is just as important as the communication between the team and the netminder. When asked how Murashov communicates with his team, he jokingly stated, “In English” , but then went on to state “We just have different talks throughout the game, so we understand each other. If we need to discuss something, we just take a minute, during intermission or periods if I have any suggestions or saw something and they want to adjust our game, we just talk freely and always open. It's all about getting better.”

There are many different shots a goaltender must pay attention to. Slapshots, backhand shot, snapshots, one-timers, and wrist shots. A slapshot is a very quick and powerful shot that can be hard to stop due to the speed. Backhanded shots is one of the harder shots to stop for a netminder due to the unpredictable nature. A snapshot is a combo of a wrist and slapshot and it often times, doesn’t give a netminder much time to react, if at all. One-Timers are shots taken on the fly during play and can be difficult for the goalie to stop because often times, they are caught off-guard. A difficult to track shot for netminders is a wrist shot due to the quickness and the versatility of the shot. Murashov has a great attitude towards difficult shots during games. “I mean, the one is, which is already behind behind me. 
That's the only one in which is hard to stop. Everything else, It's possible to stop.”

Being a goaltender, is arguably, the toughest job on the ice. They face different opponents every game, and different playing systems. Goaltenders main responsibility is to protect the net and the team from being scored against. “I don't really think about who I’m facing. I'm just focusing on my own game, and no matter who is against you, it's much more important who plays with you, and what you are doing. It's just about your own game and performing your best. 
This is, I believe, secret of success.”

Goalies of the past and present always pave the way for the up and coming goalies that are in the minor leagues and working their way up. Murashov is no different, but he takes bits and piecs from everyones game to mold into his own unique style. “I wouldn't say one in particular. In general, nice too watch a lot of different goalies in the NHL, they are all different. Everyone has his own strong sides. So overall, Bobrovsky, Shesterkin, Sorokin, all these guys, so many different and so many great goalies, you can learn from everyone.”

During the course of this season thus far, Murashov has suited up in seven games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and has posted a 1.73 GAA and .931 save percentage. He has played in two games for Pittsburgh this season, posting one win and one loss. The one win came against the Nashville Predators during the Global Series.

- Samantha Wismer/Olde City Sports Network

- Photo Credit/Wheeling Nailers/Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins