Fans\u2019 Concerns When Murray Was Picked Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Of course, as many Maple Leafs\u2019 fans worried when Murray was picked up in a trade with the Ottawa Senators, he fell victim to one of the things that bothered them about him as a goalie. He suffered an adductor injury and missed several games.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
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That said, since his return, he\u2019s been solid. He\u2019s been run over a few times in the net; but, he\u2019s gotten up, shaken himself a few times, and then proceeded to keep stopping the puck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second concern about Murray was that he had been so unsuccessful in recent seasons. His tenure with the Senators was filled with difficulties. In fact, just over a year ago, he passed through waivers <\/a>without any interest at all. He was sent to the Belleville Senators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A year later, what a surprise. Murray is thriving with the Maple Leafs. Part of that is his skill (and his success) has returned. However, being a good goalie is partly being in charge of yourself mentally. Murray inspires confidence in his teammates; and, vice versa. His teammates inspire confidence in Murray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It helps when the team plays well and the coaching staff creates situations and systems where you can succeed. That\u2019s exactly what the Maple Leafs have done \u2013 and perhaps that\u2019s exactly what general manager Kyle Dubas was counting on (and was betting the house on) when he picked Murray up.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Maple Leafs are a good team that plays solid team defence. Would that be able to create a situation of success? The answer thus far has been Yes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Part of Murray’s problem with the Senators was that the defence in front of him was not nearly as strong as the Maple Leafs\u2019 defence currently is in front of Murray this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But that doesn’t explain everything. Since his return from injury, Murray\u2019s been nothing but stellar. He\u2019s not lost a single game in regulation. I recall one poor goal, which was the Tampa Bay Lightning score that beat the Maple Leafs 4-3 in overtime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Other than that muff, Murray\u2019s stopped everything \u2013 or almost everything \u2013 that\u2019s come his way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Last night, Murray shut out a really strong Dallas Stars team. In that game, the Stars pressured and pressured. At the end of the second period, the Maple Leafs were on the penalty kill \u2013 in fact, they were two men short. In addition, these two men included some of their strongest penalty killers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet, in that flurry of activity, Murray stood tall and stopped everything that came his way.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n I cannot know this for certain, but I can imagine that when the Maple Leafs went to their locker room at the end of the second period, there were cheers and back-slapping. On the other hand, when the Stars went back into their own locker room, they were deflated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although about half a minute remained in the penalties when the third period started, those penalties were killed off quite easily. The Stars kept coming \u2013 but only a little. The game was over before it was really over.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Maple Leafs scored an additional goal into an empty net, but the Stars did not generate the same kind of energy around the net they had during the first two periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Related: Toronto Maple Leafs vs Dallas Stars Game Notes: Who Did What?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Last night, Murray might have had the best game any NHL goalie has had this season. According to MoneyPuck.com<\/a>, Murray had a goals-saved-above-expected at 5.979. It was the highest statistical effort ever recorded in a shutout since these statistics have been tracked.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Murray was strong in the net, which has been the case all season. He now ranks fifth among goaltenders<\/a> at a 5-on-5 save percentage (at .937). He also has a strong 4.22 goals saved above average.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nBeing a Good Goalie Can Be (Mostly Is?) Mental<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This Season\u2019s Maple Leafs Are Not Last Season\u2019s Senators<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The 4-0 Shutout Against the Dallas Stars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Murray\u2019s Goalie Stats Were the Best Since They’ve Been Tracked<\/h2>\n\n\n\n