Dec 20, 2024; Buffalo, New York, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Matt Murray (30) sprays himself with water during a stoppage in play against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn ImagesWith Anthony Stolarz unavailable to the Toronto Maple Leafs due to injury, Joseph Woll was the obvious choice to get the nod for Game 2. But there was some mystery behind who would back up Woll in their series with the Florida Panthers with Stolarz out.
It turns out it will be veteran netminder Matt Murray, and not Dennis Hildeby, who will be the next option?
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube explained his decision.
"Experience, I think more than anything. He's been there, done it," Berube explained.
After undergoing bilateral hip surgery that forced him to miss most of the 2023-24 season, Murray signed a one-year deal with Toronto and spent most of the season with the Toronto Marlies. It turns out outside of the experience, he actually outperformed Hildeby statistically, posting a .934 save percentage in 21 games compared to a .908 save percentage in 30 games from Hildeby.
Murray outperformed Hildeby in Toronto's two playoff games in the AHL playoffs. After Hildeby allowed four goals on 35 shots in Game 1, Murray stepped in and made 46 saves on 50 shots in a double-overtime loss.
And then of course, there is the obvious pedigree of Murray, who won two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Key Highlights of Murray's NHL Playoff Career:
- Stanley Cups: Murray was the starting goaltender for the Pittsburgh Penguins during their back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in the 2016 and 2017 playoffs.
- Shutout Streak: He holds the Penguins franchise record for the longest playoff shutout streak (225:49), which spanned from the 2017 Stanley Cup Final into the first round of the 2018 playoffs.
- Fastest to 25 Wins: On April 18, 2018, he became the fastest goaltender in NHL history to record 25 playoff wins.
Why does it matter who backs up Woll?
In normal circumstances, it wouldn't matter who backs up Woll. But the goaltender has faced multiple injury setbacks throughout his time with the Maple Leafs, impacting his ability to stay consistently in the lineup. The injury sustained at the end of Game 6 in the 2023-24 playoffs was particularly notable as it forced him to miss the decisive Game 7. During the offseason, the Leafs publicly acknowledged his injury history as an area to address for his long-term health and availability.
A summary of Woll's injury history includes:
- December 2021: Suffered an undisclosed injury, missing time.
- September 2022: Sustained a shoulder injury that sidelined him for several months.
- December 2023: Suffered a high ankle sprain, which kept him out of the lineup for a significant period (missing 35 games).
- May 2024 (2023-24 Playoffs): Injured in the final seconds of Game 6 against the Boston Bruins in the first round. This was later reported as an SI joint sprain (sprained back). The injury prevented him from playing in Game 7.
- October 2024 (2024-25 Season): Missed the start of the regular season due to a lower-body injury, described as groin tightness. He was placed on injured reserve.
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