- Cam Talbot stopped 20 shots and all three shootout tries in a 3-2 Blue Jackets win
- He became the first goalie in NHL history to win with nine different franchises
- Read below for Rick Bowness on Talbot and what Crosby said about Sergei Murashov
Cam Talbot made some NHL history in his Blue Jackets debut.
The 39-year-old goalie stopped 20 shots and all three Penguins shootout attempts in Columbus’ 3-2 win Friday at Nationwide Arena. It was his first win with the Blue Jackets and his ninth different NHL franchise, the most any goaltender has ever won with.
Sean Burke, Ron Tugnutt and Curtis McElhinney were the only other goalies to win with at least eight teams. McElhinney did it with Columbus for four seasons. Talbot also became the oldest goalie in Blue Jackets history to win a game, passing Fredrik Norrena’s mark from 2008.
Talbot signed a one-year, $950,000 deal on Sept. 14 after two seasons in Detroit. He talked about the way he handled a quiet start, with just three shots in the first period.
“I just tried to keep focus, talk a lot, play the puck whenever I could, and just focus on whatever shots were coming my way,” Talbot said. “The guys did an unbelievable job to start. We were all over them, controlled the pace to that game from pretty much start to finish.”
Rick Bowness was asked before the game why he picked Talbot to start. The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline shared the answer:
After the win, Bowness said Talbot “knows how to keep himself in the game, right? He’s been around.”
Damon Severson put Columbus up 1-0 at 10:52 of the first period with a goal and an assist in his season debut, back from shoulder surgery. Mathieu Olivier made it 2-0 in the second when his shot went in off Murashov’s skate.
Bryan Rust cut it to 2-1 at 14:30 of the second. Evgeni Malkin tied it 2-2 early in the third when Erik Karlsson’s shot deflected off Olivier’s stick and then Malkin on its way in. Kent Johnson scored the only shootout goal.
Pittsburgh rookie Sergei Murashov kept the Penguins in it with 43 saves, including 23 in the second period. Sidney Crosby talked about his goalie after the game, per Pens Inside Scoop:
The Penguins have lost three straight at 2-2-1. They host the Stars on Saturday.
