Matt Murray will start for the Maple Leafs against the Penguins on Tuesday
After spending nearly a month on the shelf with an adductor injury, Matt Murray is set to return to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ net.
According to David Alter, head coach Sheldon Keefe said that Murray will start on Tuesday when the Leafs take on the Penguins in Pittsburgh.
Sheldon Keefe says Matt Murray will start in goal against Pittsburgh tomorrow. @BodogCA @RinkWideTOR
— David Alter (@dalter) November 14, 2022The Leafs acquired Murray in July in a trade with the Ottawa Senators. He made 19 saves on 23 shots in Toronto’s season-opening loss to the Montreal Canadiens and was placed on the Long-Term Injured Reserve shortly after.
The team placed Jake Muzzin on the Long-Term Injured Reserve on Monday, so receiving a bonus cushion for his $5.625 million salary cap hit will give the Leafs the room necessary to activate Murray.
In Murray’s absence, third-string goaltender Erik Kallgren posted an .893 save percentage over eight starts. Kallgren will likely remain with the team for the time being, as Ilya Samsonov is considered week-to-week with a knee injury.
Murray was originally selected by the Penguins in the third round of the 2012 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut in 2015-16 and helped the Penguins win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017 in his first two seasons in the league.
In October of 2020, the Penguins traded Murray to the Senators in exchange for a second-round pick and prospect Jonathan Gruden. Murray inked a four-year, $25 million deal with the Sens but struggled over two seasons in Ottawa, as he posted a .899 save percentage in 47 games.
Injuries have been an issue for Murray throughout his professional career. He’s missed time due to a broken hand suffered during international play in 2016 and a concussion suffered in warm-ups while with the Penguins in 2018.