The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced a roster transaction that has some significant implications for Matt Murray for Friday’s game against the Red Wings.
After an embarrassing defeat at the hands of Mark Scheifele and the Winnipeg Jets on Monday, the Toronto Maple Leafs will look to get back into the win column on Friday against the Detroit Red Wings, who also handed them a loss last week.
The Maple Leafs are still without the services of Anthony Stolarz after the veteran netminder was forced to undergo a surgical procedure on his knee, which could sideline him until January or February.
In his absence, the Leafs have relied on Joseph Woll, Dennis Hildeby and Matt Murray to man the crease, with mixed results. Woll has dropped consecutive games against the Jets and Islanders, while Murray won his first NHL start of the season in Buffalo this past weekend.
After securing his 6-3 win against the Sabres, Matt Murray was subsequently demoted by the Leafs, who recalled Hildeby to back up Joseph Woll. This morning, the Leafs announced that they have sent Hildeby back to the AHL and have recalled Murray from the Marlies.
Last week, it was revealed that the Leafs were going to try to take advantage of the full 10-game, 30-day window for Murray to avoid having to put the veteran goaltender on waivers on sent him down.
What that tells us is that Murray, who has posted 4 wins, a 1.85 GAA and a .931 SV% in the American Hockey League this year, will start tomorrow night for the Leafs against Detroit.
Murray’s comeback from bi-lateral hip surgery has been quite impressive, and the 30-year-old has stated on multiple occasions that he feels better than he has in ages, which bodes well for the Maple Leafs, who suddenly find themselves with a lot of goaltending depth in Stolarz’s absence.
In 273 career NHL appearances, Murray, who hails from Thunder Bay, Ontario, has managed to put up 147 wins to go along with a career 2.79 GAA and a respectable .910 career save percentage.
