Matt Murray (ice hockey)

Matthew Murray (born May 25, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Matt Murray
Murray with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016
Born	May 25, 1994 Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight	178 lb (81 kg; 12 st 10 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Catches	Left
NHL team Former teams	Ottawa Senators Pittsburgh Penguins
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	83rd overall, 2012 Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career	2014–present

Murray was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the third round (83rd overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. In 2016, Murray won his first Stanley Cup championship as the starting goalie for the Penguins during the playoffs after having replaced then-starter Marc-Andre Fleury.

Murray holds the NHL record for postseason wins by a rookie, with 22; he previously held the single postseason record for wins, tied with Patrick Roy and Cam Ward, but was surpassed by Jordan Binnington in 2019. In addition, he is the only goaltender in NHL history with two Stanley Cup wins as a rookie.

Playing career

Early career

Murray was born and raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario and played his minor hockey with the Thunder Bay Minor Hockey Association. He spent his younger years playing AA before moving up to the Thunder Bay Kings AAA program.

In his minor midget season (2009–10), Murray led his Kings to a 3–2–0 record at the OHL Cup. That season with the Kings, Murray appeared in 40 games with a 2.28 GAA and 6 shutouts. He was subsequently selected in the 2nd round (35th overall) of the 2010 OHL Priority Selection by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

Murray played major junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. On September 4, 2013, Murray was signed to a three-year entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.[1]

Pittsburgh Penguins

During his first full professional season with the Penguins AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2014–15, on March 8, 2015, Murray set an AHL record for the longest shutout streak by not allowing any goals for 304 minutes and 11 seconds. The previous record of 268:17 was held by Barry Brust.[2]

On March 22, Murray recorded his tenth shutout of the season, breaking a record for rookie AHL goaltenders set by Gordie Bell in 1942–43.[3] He would finish the regular season with 12 shutouts. Murray capped his standout rookie season by sweeping the AHL awards, he was selected to the AHL First All-Star Team and Rookie Team, while winning the Baz Bastien Memorial Award as the League's best goaltender and the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award as best rookie.

Murray in net for the Penguins for the first game of their second round series against the Capitals in 2016.

In the 2015–16 season, Murray was recalled from the AHL for the first time to the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 15, 2015 and made his NHL debut on December 19, 2015 in a 2–1 loss against the Carolina Hurricanes.[4][5] Murray was recalled again by the Pittsburgh Penguins on February 21, 2016[6] and started nine games to finish the season.

On April 19, 2016 the 21-year old Murray made his NHL playoff debut, allowing just 1 goal as the Penguins defeated the New York Rangers 3–1.[7] Two days later, on April 21, Murray recorded his first NHL playoff shutout in a 5–0 win over the Rangers.[8]

Murray remained the starting goaltender throughout the playoffs upon replacing Jeff Zatkoff in game 3 of the first round. He was replaced by Marc-André Fleury just once after returning as the starter. He started all but one game of the remainder of the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs, including every game of the 2016 Stanley Cup Finals.[9] He became only the sixth starting rookie goaltender in the Cup Finals since 1976.[10]

Murray was then re-signed by the Penguins to a three year contract with an annual average salary of $3.75 million.

Murray won the Stanley Cup in 2016 and 2017.

To start the 2016–17 season, Murray was injured due to a broken hand sustained during international play. Following his return, he supplanted the veteran Fleury as the Penguins starter, and retained his elite form from his first year. During the season, he recorded 32 wins, a .923 save percentage, 2.41 GAA, and 4 shutouts. He finished within the top 10 of the NHL amongst qualifying goaltenders in wins, save percentage, and shutouts, while finishing 11th in GAA. This elite play allowed Murray to finish 4th in Calder Trophy voting for Rookie of the Year, and earned Murray a spot on the 2016–17 All-Rookie Team and the 2017 NHL All-Playoff Team.

He recorded his first NHL point on December 8, 2016, an assist on an empty net goal.[11]

During warm-ups of Game 1 of the Penguins' first-round matchup versus the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs, Murray was injured and Fleury took starting position. He saw his first action of the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Ottawa Senators after Fleury was pulled. He recorded a shutout two games later, stopping all 25 shots he faced in a 7–0 win.[12] A thrilling Game 7 OT win helped Murray and the Penguins reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the second year in a row. Murray was the starter during Game 1 and 2, becoming the youngest goalie in franchise history to start a post-season game.[13] Despite two solid starts in Game 1 and 2 against the Nashville Predators, Murray's game faltered in Games 3 and 4.[14] As a result, there were speculations on who would start in Game 5.[15] Murray was announced as the starter and stopped all 24 shots the Nashville Predators threw at him in a 6–0 win.[16] Murray made 27 saves in Game 6, shutting out the Predators 2–0 and winning the Stanley Cup for the second consecutive season.[17]

During the 2017–18 NHL season Murray sustained his second concussion during practice. On February 26, 2018, during practice, Murray was struck in the head with a puck shot by teammate and defenseman Olli Maatta and was forced to leave the session early.[18] Murray had previously sustained a concussion in the 2015–16 season causing him to miss the first 2 games of the playoffs.[18] Matt Murray returned from his February 2018 concussion, as the Penguins' starting goaltender, on March 20, 2018, against the New York Islanders. Murray allowed 4 goals in the Penguins' 4–1 loss during that game.[19]

Murray recorded the longest playoff shutout streak in Penguins franchise history at 225:49. It started during Game 4 of the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals and ended in Game 2 of the Penguins' 2018 first round series against the Philadelphia Flyers, when Shayne Gostisbehere scored late in the first period.[20] On April 18, 2018, Murray became the fastest goaltender to record 25 playoff wins in the NHL.[21] On April 23, 2018, Murray was nominated for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy as a player who best exemplifies leadership qualities and gives back to in his community.[22] Despite Murrays efforts, Pittsburgh ended up losing to the Washington Capitals in 6 games in the second round of the playoffs.

Murray was the starting goaltender for the Penguins to begin the 2018–19 season. After starting two games, Murray was diagnosed with a concussion following practice on October 8 and was ruled out indefinitely.[23] He returned to the line-up on October 13 as a backup to Casey DeSmith[24] only to be placed on injured reserve again in November due to a lower body injury.[25]

Murray and the Penguins were swept by the New York Islanders in the first round of the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs; Murray recorded a 3.01 goals against average for the series.

On October 12, 2019, Murray recorded his 100th NHL win, a 7–4 victory over the Minnesota Wild; he accomplished the feat in only 166 games, tying Pete Peeters for seventh fastest since the 1967 expansion.[26]

Ottawa Senators

On October 7, 2020, as a impending restricted free agent, Murray was traded by the Penguins to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Jonathan Gruden and a second-round pick in 2020.[27] On October 9, Murray signed a four-year, $25 million contract extension with the Senators.[28]

International play

Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  Canada
World Championships
	2019 Slovakia
World U18 Championships
	2012 Czech Republic

Murray represented Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, as starting goalie.[29] On September 19, he broke his hand playing against Russia but went undiagnosed for several days before getting an MRI and confirmed with a broken ligament.[30]

On April 29, 2019, Murray was named as the first choice goaltender to backstop Canada at the 2019 IIHF World Championship held in Slovakia.[31] Recording 5 wins in 7 games, Murrary helped Canada progress through to the playoff rounds before losing the final to Finland to finish with the Silver Medal on May 26, 2019.[32]

Personal life

Murray's father, who died in January 2018,[33][34] was from Scotland and his mother is from the Netherlands.[35] He married his high school sweetheart Christina Sirignano on June 20, 2019.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season										Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T/OT	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%		GP	W	L	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
2009–10	Thunder Bay Kings Min. Midget	HNO		40	—	—	—	1975	75	6	2.28	0		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds	OHL		28	8	11	3	1377	87	1	3.79	.887		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds	OHL		36	13	19	1	1912	130	0	4.08	.876		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds	OHL		53	26	19	4	2910	178	1	3.67	.894		6	2	4	381	17	1	2.67	.910
2013–14	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds	OHL		49	32	11	6	2984	128	6	2.57	.921		9	4	5	547	24	1	2.63	.915
2013–14	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		1	0	1	0	60	2	0	2.00	.920		1	0	0	20	0	0	0.00	1.000
2014–15	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		40	25	10	3	2321	61	12	1.58	.941		8	4	4	456	18	1	2.37	.923
2015–16	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		13	9	2	1	749	25	1	2.00	.930		21	15	6	1268	44	1	2.08	.923
2016–17	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		49	32	10	4	2766	111	4	2.41	.923		11	7	3	669	19	3	1.70	.937
2017–18	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		49	27	16	3	2733	133	1	2.92	.907		12	6	6	716	29	2	2.43	.908
2018–19	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		50	29	14	6	2880	129	4	2.69	.919		4	0	4	239	12	0	3.01	.906
2019–20	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		38	20	11	5	2238	107	1	2.87	.899		3	1	2	192	8	0	2.50	.914
NHL totals				199	117	53	19	11,366	505	11	2.67	.914		51	29	21	3,083	112	6	2.18	.921

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
2012	Canada	WJC18			7	4	3	0	421	19	0	2.72	.920
2016	Team North America	WCH	5th		2	1	1	0	95	5	0	3.16	.866
2019	Canada	WC			7	5	2	0	418	14	1	2.01	.926
Junior totals					7	4	3	0	421	19	0	2.72	.920
Senior totals					9	6	3	0	513	19	1	2.22	.918

Awards and honours

Award	Year
OHL
Second All-Star Team	2014	[36]
AHL
All-Rookie Team	2015	[37]
Best GAA (1.58)	2015	[38]
Best SVS% (.941)	2015	[38]
Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award	2015	[39]
Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award	2015	[40]
Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award	2015	[41]
First All-Star Team	2015	[42]
NHL
Stanley Cup Champion	2016, 2017	[43][44]
Prince of Wales Trophy	2016, 2017	[45][46]
NHL All-Rookie Team	2017	[47]
Michel Brière Rookie of the Year Award	2016	[48]
Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Good Guy Award	2018

References

1. "Penguins sign Goaltender Matt Murray". Pittsburgh Penguins. September 4, 2013. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
2. "Murray sets shutout streak record at 304:11". American Hockey League. March 8, 2015. Archived from the original on March 10, 2015. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
3. "Penguins' Murray sets another record". American Hockey League. March 23, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
4. "Penguins Recall Goaltender Matt Murray and Forwards Conor Sheary and Kevin Porter". Pittsburgh Penguins. December 15, 2015.
5. "3 Impressions: Canes 2, Pens 1". Pittsburgh Penguins. December 19, 2015.
6. "Penguins Recall Goaltender Matt Murray". Pittsburgh Penguins. February 21, 2016.
7. "Matt Murray wins playoff debut". National Hockey League. April 20, 2016.
8. "'Mature beyond his years,' Murray lifts Penguins". National Hockey League. April 21, 2016.
9. Rossi, Rob. "Rossi: Appreciate Penguins' long-awaited return to Stanley Cup Final". TribLIVE.com.
10. "By one strange stat, Penguins have advantage over Sharks in Stanley Cup finals quest". May 26, 2016.
11. "Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Florida Panthers". TSN.
12. "Fluery, Murray make Penguins postseason history". pit.247sports.com. June 1, 2017. Archived from the original on June 12, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
13. Simmons, Jeff (April 19, 2016). "Not just Murray: Five youngest NHL goalies to make a playoff start". Sportsnet.ca. Sportsnet. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
14. "Fleury replaces Murray for Penguins in Game 4". National Hockey League. May 20, 2016. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
15. Rosen, Dan (June 6, 2017). "Penguins won't commit to starting Matt Murray in Game 5 of Cup Final". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
16. Stubbs, Dave (June 9, 2017). "Matt Murray bounces back to get shutout for Penguins in Game 5". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
17. Stanley, Robby (June 11, 2017). "Penguins shutout Predators to claim Stanley Cup". National Hockey League. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
18. Werner, Sam (February 27, 2018). "Penguins goalie Matt Murray diagnosed with a concussion". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
19. Bombulie, Jonathan (March 20, 2018). "Penguins underwhelm in loss as Matt Murray returns". Tribune Live. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
20. Hagerman, Craig (April 14, 2018). "Murray's playoff shutout streak ends at nearly 4 full games". MSN. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
21. Leahy, Sean (April 18, 2018). "Penguins follow Matt Murray's lead, take Game 4 over Flyers". nhl.nbcsports.com. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
22. "NHL announces 31 team nominees for King Clancy Trophy". National Hockey League. April 23, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
23. Crosby, Wes (October 9, 2018). "Murray out with concussion for Penguins". National Hockey League. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
24. Bombulie, Jonathan (October 13, 2018). "Penguins goalie Matt Murray to back up Casey DeSmith in first game back from concussion". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
25. "Pens place goalie Matt Murray on IR with lower-body injury". ESPN.com. November 22, 2018. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
26. NHL Public Relations [@PR_NHL] (October 12, 2019). "Matt Murray required the fewest games in @penguins history to record his 100th career win, while becoming the eighth goaltender in the NHL since 1967-68 to do so in 166 games or less. #NHLStats" (Tweet). Retrieved October 14, 2019 – via Twitter.
27. "Ottawa Senators acquire Goaltender Matt Murray from Pittsburgh". Ottawa Senators. October 7, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
28. "Ottawa Senators sign goaltender Matt Murray to a four-year contract". Ottawa Senators. October 9, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
29. "Team North America announces it's starting goaltender". September 1, 2016.
30. Crosby, Wes (September 26, 2016). "Matt Murray was 'shocked' by broken hand". Cranberry, PA: National Hockey League. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
31. "Hockey Canada names 22 players to 2019 IIHF World Championship roster". Hockey Canada. April 29, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
32. "Finland defeats Canada for Gold Medal at World Championship". The Sports Network. May 26, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
33. Gretz, Adam (January 17, 2018). "Matt Murray to miss 'indefinite period of time' following passing of his father". nbcsports.com. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
34. The Associated Press (January 17, 2018). "Penguins' Matt Murray taking leave after father's death". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
35. "Murray Discusses Helmet Design". National Hockey League. May 21, 2016. Archived from the original on May 21, 2016.
36. "Murray, Nurse named to OHL all-star teams". Sault Star. May 14, 2014. Archived from the original on September 28, 2014. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
37. "Murray Named to 2014–15 AHL All-Rookie Team". Pittsburgh Penguins. May 2, 2015. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
38. "After top goalie and rookie nods, Matt Murray to start 2015–16 in AHL". The Hockey News. April 1, 2015. Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
39. "Matt Murray, Jeff Zatkoff Win AHL'S Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award". Pittsburgh Penguins. April 1, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
40. "Murray named AHL's rookie of the year". American Hockey League. May 2, 2015. Archived from the original on May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
41. "Murray Named Winner of Baz Bastien Award". Pittsburgh Penguins. April 1, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
42. "First, Second Team AHL All-Stars named". American Hockey League. May 2, 2015. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
43. "Penguins win Stanley Cup, defeat Sharks in Game 6". National Hockey League. June 12, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
44. "Penguins repeat as Stanley Cup champions". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. June 11, 2017. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
45. Crosby, Wes (May 27, 2016). "Penguins defeat Lightning, Stamkos in Game 7". National Hockey League. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
46. Crosby, Wes (May 26, 2017). "Penguins defeat Senators in 2OT of Game 7, return to Cup Final". National Hockey League. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
47. "NHL announces 2016–17 All-Rookie Team". National Hockey League. June 21, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
48. "Congratulations to Matt Murray (@mattmurray_30) on earning this year's #Pens Rookie Award, presented by @Highmark". Pittsburgh Penguins Twitter. April 4, 2017. Retrieved January 22, 2019.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database