Jeers to cheers, most Penguins fans say they support Matt Murray

Most Penguins fans have Matt Murray’s back, according to TribLIVE.com social media polls.

Sixty-seven percent of respondents in the Trib’s unscientific Facebook poll said fans were not justified in booing Murray after he allowed two early goals against the Boston Bruins on Sunday at PPG Paints Arena. About 400 people voted.

The vote was close on Twitter, but more fans than not still thought the boo birds were out of line.

Were fans justified in booing Penguins goalie Matt Murray after he let in two early goals in Sunday's game?

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) January 20, 2020

Things got worse for Murray before they got better, as the Penguins faced a three-goal deficit before rallying to win 4-3.

Murray’s teammates came to his defense after the game, but the two-time Stanley Cup-winning goalie seemed particularly annoyed, offering a curt “no comment” when asked about the fans.

Justin Petrick said on the Trib’s Facebook account that he believes fans paying to attend games have a right to boo a player who is playing poorly but offered, “The only downside is that most casual viewers don’t understand hockey enough to know when it’s the goaltender’s fault or the players in front of them. Not to mention that, (Tristan) Jarry has been playing well, and people expect that all of the time.”

Jim Duron said booing “goes along with playing pro sports.”

“Fans are both emotional and invested,” he said on the Trib’s Twitter account. “If an athlete can’t handle it, they are in the wrong business.”

Said Jeremy Horn on Facebook: “I think the whole team deserved (boos). Not just Murray.”