BUFFALO, N.Y. — Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Matt Murray felt tingles in ensuring to soak up the second throughout pregame warmups and the nationwide anthem earlier than making his first NHL begin in almost 21 months.
The 30-year-old, two-time Stanley Cup-winner felt a fair larger wave of emotion come over him as soon as the ultimate horn sounded and Murray was mobbed by his teammates following his 25-save efficiency in a 6-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night time.
“A giant launch,” Murray stated, in coming to the conclusion of the exhaustive work he has put in spending a lot of the previous 12 months rehabbing following bilateral hip surgical procedure.
“I feel I took it as a problem. It was an extended highway, an enormous mountain to climb,” Murray stated. “However I stored this second within the entrance of my thoughts on these days the place it felt robust.”
Murray is finest recognized for opening his profession with Pittsburgh, the place he gained two Cups, together with his rookie season in 2015-16 when he posted a 15-6 document within the playoffs.
The win on Friday was the 147th of Murray’s profession, and first since a 33-save outing in Toronto’s 6-2 win over Florida on March 23, 2023. His final begin got here two days later in a loss at Carolina, whereas he additionally had a mop-up outing in a backup function per week later in a loss to Detroit.
In any other case, Murray spent a lot of the previous calendar 12 months questioning if he’ll ever play one other NHL recreation once more, whereas regaining his type with the Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate. He closed final season going 1-2 in three begins, and had a 4-1-2 document, together with a shutout, when Toronto referred to as him up Friday, with Anthony Stolarz sidelined 4 to 6 weeks after having knee surgical procedure.
Coach Craig Berube expressed confidence in Murray earlier than the sport by saying “he nonetheless has a fireplace inside.”
Afterward, Berube congratulated Murray for being cool and composed.
“I did not discover an excessive amount of emotion or something like that. He was fairly dialed in,” Berube stated. “It is a large dedication he made to wish to get again and play within the NHL. Went by way of loads and really completely satisfied for him.”
Murray made a number of key stops within the opening two intervals, and bought a lift from Toronto’s offense in constructing a 5-1 lead over the slumping Sabres, who dropped to 0-9-3 of their previous 12.
Murray additionally bought a number of assists from the officers, who disallowed two targets.
Alex Tuch’s objective, which might have tied the sport at 1 early within the first interval, was disallowed when a linesman dominated Buffalo’s Jason Zucker high-sticked Toronto Chris Tanev getting into the zone. Zucker was issued a double-minor penalty for drawing blood.
Owen Energy then had a objective disallowed that will have lower the result in 5-4 with 3:26 left. Toronto, nonetheless, efficiently challenged Buffalo’s Sam Lafferty for goalie interference. Replays confirmed Lafferty’s skate hitting Murray’s stick simply earlier than Energy scored on a shot from the precise level.
“I had no likelihood,” Murray stated on the second disallowed objective. “I used to be positively hoping that they have been going to make the precise name. I feel they did.”
Maple Leafs gamers praised Murray for his efficiency and resilience, figuring out what the goalie has endured.
“Mentally to clock in each single day for that lengthy, it is unbelievable,” ahead Max Domi stated. “That is stuff that you just guys as media members and the followers do not see, however we as gamers do. And I imply, it is inspirational for us. All of us look as much as him and we’re tremendous completely satisfied for him.”
