First Call: Matt Murray's struggles continue; ex-Penguins lighting up the score sheet

Monday’s “First Call” is a hockey hotbed.

Former Penguins goaltender Matt Murray is continuing to have problems with his new team. And on Sunday, many of them were caused by some other guys who also used to skate in Pittsburgh.

In fact, ex-Penguins are scoring like crazy all over the NHL.

Meanwhile, on the college level, the Robert Morris Colonials quickly rediscovered their winning ways. And questions about Pittsburgh’s “Frozen Four” are now being discussed.

Now they are just rubbing it in

We’ve already chronicled the woes of former Penguins goaltender Matt Murray since being traded to Ottawa.

Well, they got even worse Sunday night. He and the rest of the Senators lost to the Edmonton Oilers 8-5. And some former Pens ended up chasing Murray early in this one.

Dominik Kahun beat Murray just eight seconds into the game, tying a team record for the fastest goal in a game set by Wayne Gretzky.

Dominik Kahun opened the scoring at 0:08 of the first period to match the @EdmontonOilers record for fastest goal from the start of a game, a mark set by Wayne Gretzky on Dec. 14, 1983. https://t.co/pl1wnnhCgW #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/V3p6NLJxD8

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 1, 2021

That was the second of the year for Kahun. Then James Neal got in on the fun.

Neal's buzzin' ?

Here's his first on the night.#LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/chVqMAlxSz

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) February 1, 2021

That was Neal’s first of the year. Murray would allow a third goal to Tyson Barrie, then he got benched in 7:20 of action. But Neal wasn’t finished as he beat Marcus Hogberg for another first-period goal.

Goal scorer's goal. @jneal_18 | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/3tyg8CHvoa

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) February 1, 2021

Leon Draisaitl wound up with six assists. Connor McDavid had a goal and four assists. Murray is now 1-4-1 with a 4.81 goals against average and a save percentage of just .849.

Old friends, new places

Edmonton wasn’t the only place where former Penguins were dotting the score sheet.

In Raleigh, Jordan Staal scored for the hometown Carolina Hurricanes and defenseman Jamie Oleksiak potted a goal for the visiting Dallas Stars.

Thank you to everyone especially those named Jamie #GoStars pic.twitter.com/Z3sa1JKqOa

— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) January 31, 2021

The Hurricanes ended up winning 4-3 in overtime.

Meanwhile in Detroit, Patric Hornqvist is keeping his magic going. He scored his fifth goal in six games for the Florida Panthers, this time on the power play.

Backhand and IN ? pic.twitter.com/YGmm1ArC3F

— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) January 31, 2021

Florida has 11 points in just six games to lead the Central Division.

Even Pittsburgh product Brandon Saad contributed for the Colorado Avalanche.

Saad cannot be stopped!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/6DjBCRPUjY

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) February 1, 2021

That was Saad’s fifth goal of the season. But the Avs ended up losing to the Minnesota Wild in a 4-3 overtime contest.

Back on track

The Robert Morris men’s hockey team recovered from a mid-season wobble over the weekend.

Derek Schooley’s club got off to a program-record 11-3 start. However, the Colonials lost back-to-back games against Mercyhurst on Jan. 19 (3-2, OT) and Jan. 23 (7-5).

But when the teams met for a third consecutive time — thanks to some odd coronavirus-related rescheduling machinations — on Saturday, Robert Morris managed to exact some measure of revenge with a 5-3 comeback victory.

RMU trailed 3-1 in the third period but posted four unanswered goals to close out the game.

??ROMAN KRAEMER! RMU LEADS 4-3!#RMUnite | ??? pic.twitter.com/v2faWRFMOW

— RMU Men’s Hockey (@RMUMHockey) January 31, 2021

American International is the only team in Atlantic Hockey with more conference points (32) and a better winning percentage (.917) than the Colonials (29 pts, .769).

Robert Morris next plays Long Island University at Clearview Arena on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. and then again at 3:05 p.m. Friday afternoon.

While we’re on the topic

Speaking of college hockey, this year’s Frozen Four is scheduled to be hosted in Pittsburgh at PPG Paints Arena.

But as the battle against coronavirus drags along, that remains in doubt.

Not only the location, but like everything else in the college sports world at this point, the event itself.

According to a recent story in College Hockey News, plans remain a go for Pittsburgh to be the venue for the event April 8-10.

According to Adam Wodon, Pittsburgh “is still on the table for hosting the Frozen Four. At this point, that’s still everyone’s expectation.”

However, Wodon wonders “why not just have it somewhere else smaller if no fans are allowed?”

That may be especially true if the four teams who qualify are close to one specific region.

Like everything else in 2021, we’ll have to see what local lawmakers allow when it comes to what they’ll accept from the terms dedicated by the virus.