LEAFS NOTES: Matt Murray moved to Marlies on conditioning loan

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Published Apr 13, 2024  •  Last updated 1 hour ago  •  5 minute read

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In an encouraging – and very intriguing – roster move Saturday, the Leafs put mothballed goaltender Matt Murray on the farm team Marlies for a Long Term Injured Reserve conditioning loan.

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While Murray is hardly in the picture for NHL playoffs, he certainly has defied the odds following bilateral hip surgery to become an active participant in recent Leafs practices. He went right to work Saturday night in Syracuse, making 22 saves, but allowing five goals, three of those on the power play, before Toronto pulled out a 6-5 shootout win and clinched an AHL playoff spot. 

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“When the time mattered in the third period, in the 3-on-3, in the shootout, he was outstanding,” Marlies head coach John Gruden said. “It was good to have him, the guys liked him and I’m sure he was pretty excited about being back.” 

Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe praised Murray’s determination. 

“His (comeback) has been very much on the periphery. You see him in there working every day and because it’s often by himself and at odd hours with not many people around, you have a good appreciation of how long a road it has been and his mindset all the way through to give himself an opportunity to get back in net this season.”

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Murray can stay on the farm for three total games or six days. He was having lower body flexibility issues in his first season and did not finish 2022-23, the surgery decided upon in late summer. It freed up $6.25 million US in cap space and set up Ilya Samsonov, Joseph Woll and newly signed Martin Jones to be Toronto’s trio. 

Keefe ended up using all of them this season, and just a glance at the Vegas Golden Knights going through multiple goaltenders last season before Adin Hill emerged for the Stanley Cup champions shows the best laid plans in net can come undone. 

“There is no shortage of those situations,” Keefe said. “Depth is important, which is why we kept Jones around here (when other good back-ups were previously lost on waivers). Over time, you never know, but (Murray playing for the Leafs) is far from what our focus is now.” 

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UH, ABOUT THAT START … 

Samsonov deserves credit for getting it together Saturday after he and the Leafs fell behind 4-1 on 13 shots after one period. 

Many did not expect to see him start the second in favour of Woll, but he made a few key stops to restore rhythm, the last one preceding Nick Robertson’s goal to start Toronto’s climb back to a tie.  

“I don’t have any of that on Sammy,” Keefe insisted of the opening frame. “I thought it was important for Sammy (to get back in), that our team was going to be better and he’d be part of that.” 

But Samsonov was stung by the four goals, making it 10 in four periods after the loss to New Jersey, given his chance to come right back Saturday. 

“Second game like that for us, not what we want to see,” Samsonov said. “Nice to come back, but we lost a point (leaving Toronto isolated in third place in the Atlantic) in our last (home) game.”  

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Now, Keefe must decide which of the last two road games in Tampa Bay or Florida Samsonov gets to tune up for the first round. 

LOOKING TOWARDS PLAYOFFS

Until losing winger Bobby McMann in the first period with an undetermined lower body injury, Keefe said he could envision his Game 1 playoff lineup. But with two games to go, Calle Jarnkrok’s injury and the identity of a first-round foe still cloud his final decisions. 

“I’ve had a picture of it for quite some time. But if you don’t have all the information until Game 82; health, opponent, those types of things, you never can finalize anything.  

“Right now, Jarnkrok is out. How does that affect our group? Obviously, the way things have come together with Max Domi and Auston, that line is a real thing that gives our team a totally different look (spreading Marner, William Nylander and Matthew Knies across the other three units).  

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“For me, you try and balance chemistry and continuity with all that. This team, anytime you’ve had disruptions or changes, has responded. We unexpectedly lost Auston for a game, we had to throw together some lines against Pittsburgh – and might have played our best game of the season. That’s the exciting thing about our group, we have some good options.” 

To be determined as well is who would sit a game if the report is true that Boston University defenceman Cade Webber is going to sign and be on next week’s road trip. 

TALK OF THE TOWN 

Matthews’ 70-goal pursuit is the topic wherever Keefe goes, such as his son’s’ minor hockey game on Friday. 

“About a dozen 10-year-olds came up to me, asking how many goals Auston’s going to get. I get the hype and everything around it. There’s lots of young Leaf fans, many older than 10, who in their lives haven’t seen anything like this. 

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“I get more of a thrill from just watching Auston play and where his game is at. Wherever the number (of goals) gets, I’m not concerned, I never will and I’m not even convinced he’s concerned. Where it sits right now is pretty tremendous.” 

Fans were ready with signs and 70-themed party balloons.

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LOOSE LEAFS 

The Leafs will finish this season with at least two fewer home wins than road. That has happened before, but just twice since 1980 in years the Leafs made the playoffs … Trying to avoid an eighth straight season out of the playoffs, Detroit finishes with a home and home against the long-eliminated Montreal Canadiens, with only one point separating the Wings from current wildcard holder Washington, while tied with Philadelphia and a point up on Pittsburgh. Of that group, only the Flyers are down to one remaining game … Like last spring, it’s looking as though the Leafs radio duo of Joe Bowen and Jim Ralph will be going on the road for playoffs, after being kept in studio when Leafs are away.

lhornby@postmedia.com

X: @sunhornby

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