The Ottawa Senators announced that goalie Matt Murray is sidelined until Oct. 21 with an undisclosed injury. He can return to the lineup for Thursday’s game against the San Jose Sharks.
Roster update: #Sens goaltender Matt Murray has been placed on IR retroactive to Oct. 12.
Murray will be eligible to return to the team's lineup on Thursday vs @SanJoseSharks.
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) October 15, 2021
Matt Murray Out
Murray was slated to be the Senators’ starter for their opening night game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, he was replaced by Anton Forsberg, who made 46 saves in the 3-2 win.
The Thunder Bay, Ontario native had returned to practice on Wednesday after he battled with an illness. Murray did say the illness is not COVID-19 and he’s been tested three times before being allowed to return.
“We’re going to take the next (36 hours) and reassess because I’m definitely fighting something,” Murray said prior Thursdays practice. “It’s not COVID-19. I’ve tested negative three times, so that’s positive. I’m still running less than 100 per cent so it’s good to take advantage of the next little bit, get some rest and reassess (Thursday).”
The 27-year-old goalie was looking to bounce back from a subpar 2020-21 campaign. He went 10-13-1 in 27 games with a 3.38 goals-against-average. Murray also logged an .893 save percentage and two shutouts last season. He started in 25 of those games last season.
Over his six-year NHL career, Murray has played for the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Ottawa Senators. He has 127 wins, 66 losses and 20 overtime losses with a 2.74 goals-against-average and .912 save percentage. Pittsburgh originally drafted him in the third round, 83rd overall in the 2012 NHL Drat.
What This Means for the Future
Forsberg and Filip Gustavsson will likely split the duties in net until Murray does come back. Murray does want to rebound from his bad season, but the Senators did get a great performance from Forsberg. It’s likely both goalies get a start with the team facing Leafs and the Dallas Stars on back-to-back nights Saturday and Sunday.
Forsberg has already been named as the starter for Saturday’s game against the Maple Leafs.
