Penguins’ goaltending prospect Joel Blomqvist, an AHL All-Star last season, rolled into training camp a bit more confident than he did last season.
“It’s obviously a little bit easier this year for me to come in when I kind of know already a little bit what training camp’s all about,” he said. “So the second year feels a little bit easier, and I don’t have to be as nervous as last year.”
View the original article to see embedded media.
And he, along with fellow goaltending prospect Sergei Murashov, are getting a good taste of what camp is all about pretty thoroughly this year.
Blomqvist – who led the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to the 2024 playoffs with a 2.16 goals-against average (GAA) and a .921 save percentage (SV%) during the regular season – already has two preseason games under his belt. And Murashov – who split time between the KHL and MHL last season and had a SV% of .925 and .930, respectively – has appeared in several of the Penguins’ intrasquad scrimmages.
They are both getting a good taste of NHL action, and they both came ready to make an impression in camp.
Related: Penguins Fall to Sabres in Second Preseason Matchup
“I feel really excited about it,” Murashov said. “It’s a great opportunity for me to develop myself and to get to know some (of the guys) in here and practice with the best players in the world. I really appreciate it and enjoy it, and I’m trying my best to perform here.”
Murashov’s last “game action” outing on Friday during the Team 1 v. Team 3 scrimmage was a bit rough, as he surrendered three quick goals in the second period. But it’s evident how quickly he moves from goalpost-to-goalpost, and his athleticism has been on full display.
He mentioned that what he learned from his KHL coaches has helped him, and he’s looking forward to learning from the coaches in Pittsburgh as well as improving through the rest of camp.
And he’s also learning a lot from veterans Tristan Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic.
“I really enjoy playing with these guys,” Murashov said. “They work hard and they perform their best on the ice and off-ice, and it’s been a really good place. It’s a great motivation for me.”
He continued: “I think mostly it’s about their psychology here. They have already great results, and great wins, and if I want to do the same, I just have to learn something from them.”
Related: Penguins Training Camp: Notes from Day 5
Blomqvist echoed a similar sentiment when discussing the Penguins’ two NHL veteran goaltenders.
“I think one thing I’ve noticed is that they compete really hard,” Blomqvist said. “Like, each practice, they have 100 percent effort and focus, and that’s something I noticed and I want to carry over to myself also.”
After struggling a bit in his first preseason outing against Buffalo, Blomqvist seemed to find a comfort zone when he relieved Nedeljkovic midway through the second period on Tuesday. He stopped all 11 shots he faced for the remainder of the contest against the Sabres.
“I tried to learn from the first game and just play my own game,” he said. “I know when I play my own game, it’s good enough.”
And that’s something he’s trying to carry through the rest of training camp and into the regular season.
“I just try to take it day by day, every day,” he added. “Just try to make the best out of today and always when I get the chance on the ice. You try to be the best version of yourself and then see how far it will take you.”
Related: Penguins Drop Preseason Opener to Sabres
