Matt Murray Helps the Marlies Clinch a Playoff Berth and How He Looked in His First Game as Part of Maple Leafs Conditioning Loan

Matt Murray appeared in an AHL game on Saturday for the first time since Dec. 12, 2021, with the Belleville Senators. This time, though, it was with the Toronto Marlies.

Murray was loaned to the Marlies on Saturday morning for a conditioning stint. He’s been on long-term injured reserve since having bilateral hip surgery in October. This was his first taste of game action since Apr. 2, 2023, when he allowed two goals on seven shots against the Detroit Red Wings.

The 29-year-old didn’t face a shot for the game’s first five minutes. However, when he did see the opening shot, the Syracuse Crunch found the back of the net. Murray was left in a tough spot as the Marlies allowed a two-on-one after going up by two goals early.

Nearly ten minutes later, while Syracuse was on the power play, a point shot was tipped in front, beating Murray under the blocker. That was a game-tying goal for the Crunch before Marlies defenseman Cameron Gaunce got on the board with his first goal for Toronto.

Syracuse would score three more goals — two of which were on the power play — while Toronto added two of their own. On several goals, Murray had plenty of traffic in front of him, making the save fairly difficult.

However, the game-tying goal that the Crunch scored early in the third period was likely one the Toronto netminder would likely want back.

He finished regulation stopping 20 of 25 shots, and although that might not be a great number for some, it’s likely different for Murray. Goaltenders aren’t looking to make huge saves on conditioning loans. They’re more so making sure they move well in the net and that whatever they’ve injured in the past feels okay.

Toronto and Syracuse went to overtime and the shootout with Murray being perfect throughout it. He made a few crucial saves in overtime without his stick, too.

He stopped every Crunch player in the shootout, helping the Marlies not only get the win but clinch a playoff spot in the process. Murray finished the game stopping 22 of 27 shots against for his first win in the AHL in quite a long time.

“He made the big timely saves. A few of those I couldn’t see, I was on the bench in the first period there, you couldn’t see, they had good net front and there was nothing he could do about those shots just found their way through,” Marlies head coach John Gruden told Marlies play-by-play commentator Todd Crocker following the game.

“When the time mattered in the third period, in the three-on-three, shootout, he was outstanding. Good for him. It was good to have him. The guys liked him and I’m pretty sure he was excited about being back as well.”

This was a fascinating game for Murray. There was plenty of chaos in front of him, including plenty of goals, being run into a few times, big hits, a Topi Niemela fight, and dogs in the crowd. All in all, though, it was a fairly clean game for him, aside from Syracuse’s fifth goal.

Ultimately, he’d likely want that one back. But Murray never had to stretch out and make big saves, which he probably liked. All in all, for someone who hasn’t played in over a year, I’d say this was a positive game for Murray.

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