The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to play well and beat a very good Dallas Stars team on the road 4-0 last night. You must give credit to Maple Leafs goalie Matt Murray. Kyle Dubas was questioned and criticized for letting Jack Campbell sign in Edmonton and signing Murray. Many thought Matt Murray's best playing days were behind him. Especially after a lackluster year with Ottawa. However, Murray has rebounded this year and is playing exceptional well for Toronto. Murray made forty-four saves last night for the shoutout.
It wasn't just the amount of saves that Murray made last night, it was the high-quality saves that is impressive. Last nights stats state that Murray had 5.979 goals saved above expected. This is the highest rating since tracking this stat took place. Murray isn't just stopping pucks; he's making a key difference in hockey games and the Leafs are benefiting from his strong play.
In Matt Murray's career we've seen the goalie have his fair share of ups and downs. He's battled through injuries and inconsistent play at times. However, when Murray is healthy and playing well, he's a difference maker. He's already backstopped the Penguins to two Stanley Cup championships and now he's giving Toronto a chance to win every night he plays. If Murray can stay healthy and continue his strong play, perhaps this is finally the boost Toronto needs to get past the first round of the playoffs.
