Maple Leafs Playoffs Simulation With Matt Murray as Starter

Jared Brown

Apr 14, 2024, 17:46

Jared Brown

Apr 14, 2024, 17:46

Can Matt Murray be an option for Toronto in the playoffs?

Matt Murray's name has been coming up more often as he started practicing with Toronto and has been sent to the AHL for a conditioning stint with the Marlies.

Murray underwent bilateral hip surgery back in October and his injury was to keep him sidelined for the entire season. His return to action gives the Maple Leafs a boost in their goaltending depth leading up to the playoffs.

Murray is a longshot to suit up for the Maple Leafs in the playoffs, barring injuries to the goalies they have in front of him on the pecking order, but why not see how far Toronto can get with him as their starter?

He's a 70 overall in the game and we had to boost him up or else the Leafs would lose every game 10-0. We made him an 82, which we thought was fair seeing as that's about the overall of a backup goalie.

The video shows the score outcome and Murray's performance in each game. However, below we will give you the quick Coles notes.

Seeing as Toronto is destined for a playoff rematch against Florida. That's where we got things started. The Maple Leafs dropped the first two games with Murray allowing seven goals on 60 shots, not a good start.

He then got things together for the Buds and made 133 saves on 144 shots in the next five games, en route to a seven-game series win over the Panthers. Murray finished with a .911 save percentage in the first round.

Toronto took on a familiar foe in the second round, the Boston Bruins. The Leafs got off to a sharp start taking games one and two with Murray only allowing a combined four goals on 66 shots.

The Leafs appeared to be in a good spot but dropped the next four games and lost the series 4-2. Murray was pulled in games three and six, finishing with a disappointing .902 save percentage in the series.

Matt Murray finished the playoffs as the Maple Leafs starter with a 2.87 goals-against-average and .907 save percentage. His stats were alright, but he did allow three or more goals in eight of his 13 games.

Upon conclusion of this NHL 24 simulation, Toronto doesn't really need Murray, and they would be better off riding Ilya Samsonov and Joseph Woll while hoping one of them gets hot at the most important time of the year.

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