27-year-old goalie Jeff Zatkoff was the 74th overall pick by the Los Angeles Kings in 2006. He won 21 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton two seasons ago and spent last year in Pittsburgh winning another 12 games as the back up to Marc-Andre' Fleury. So far this year Zatkoff is 8th in goal-tending in the American Hockey League.
"I've said it since day one since I've been here our defense core is unbelievable. I think you look at who's on our back-end night in and night out their one of the strongest parts of our team," said Jeff Zatkoff.
Matt Murray is 20 years old and shares the goal-tending duties with Zatkoff. Murray the 83rd overall pick by Pittsburgh in the 3rd round of the 2012 draft is shining here in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton-12th in the AHL. He brings quite a resume from Thunder Bay Ontario as a youth starting for Team Canada in the 2011 World 18u Championships where he won a bronze medal.
"How did the approach go and you becoming a goaltender and not a forward or a defense-men? For the 9aa tryouts I wanted to play kind of half and half. I asked if I could sign-up as a goalie and a defense-men because I like both, but they told me I had to play one and I think I showed a little more progress when I was young as a goaltender," said Matt Murray.
"They've given us a chance to win. That's what you want to have in your goaltenders and they've made saves when we need them to make saves, but they've also been there when we've had breakdowns. They both have been able to come up big for us," said John Hynes.
When the Pittsburgh Penguins signed goalie Marc-Andre' Fleury to a $23 million dollar 4 year extension back in November that kind of solidified things here in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for goalies Jeff Zatkoff and Matt Murray. They both settled in. Their winning games helping Coach Hynes and both are ready to be called upon to the NHL if Pittsburgh needs them.
"Right now I'm worried about winning games down here and giving us a chance to win night in and night out," added Jeff.
"Basically that's where I want to be. That's where I'm striving to play is in Pittsburgh. I want to be the best goalie that I can be and hopefully make the jump pretty soon," said Matt.
Solid in the pipes. Stability in the organization. Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton are both winning and getting great goal-tending top to bottom.