Murray grateful for win in NHL return: 'It was a long road'

Goaltender Matt Murray soaked in every moment of his triumphant return to an NHL crease Friday as he backstopped the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 6-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.

"Getting back to the NHL was obviously in the front of my mind the whole time," Murray said, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox. "It was what I was working towards, and it was a long road, but just super thankful for the opportunity to get back here and get a win tonight."

Murray hadn't played an NHL game since April 2023, and extensive rehab from double hip surgery limited him to 11 AHL appearances over the past two seasons. He earned a call to the Maple Leafs after Anthony Stolarz was ruled out four-to-six weeks due to injury.

"It was a rush of emotion," Murray said. "And a big release. Great to celebrate with the guys. And, you know, a lot of very kind words in the room afterwards, too, which meant a lot."

Murray made 24 stops in the victory. He posted an impressive .931 save percentage across eight games in the minors this season and is likely to back up Joseph Woll on a consistent basis with Stolarz sidelined.

"The last year-and-a-half, two years, we see him every day at the rink, rehabbing, working out," captain Auston Matthews said. "It's been a long journey for him, and just an incredible person. So, it's awesome to see him get this one tonight, and it's extremely well deserved."

The Maple Leafs acquired Murray from the Ottawa Senators in 2022, but injuries have marred his time in Toronto. The club signed him to a one-year, $875,000 contract in July to keep him around as a depth option.