Toronto Maple Leafs: Matt Murray Kind of Impressive In Debut

The Toronto Maple Leafs shut-out the Montreal Canadiens in pre-season action last night.

The score was the Toronto Maple Leafs 3, the Montreal Canadiens 0, and it was the debut of the much maligned Mr. Matt Murray.

Fortunately for me, I was watching Aaron Judge hit a record tying home run which prevented the Blue Jays from clinching the playoffs and missed most of the game.

However, despite my notorious despising of the NHL pre-season, I was forced to pay at least some attention because I was very curious how Murray would do in his debut.

It turns out, he did awesome, and I’m glad I tuned in as much as I did.

Toronto Maple Leafs and Matt Murray

What a night for the haters.

Nicky Robrobs scored a goal, as did Denis “Evgeni” Malgin who also added an assist, while Matt Murray was el perfecto.

That sound you hear? It’s me, planning a parade. 

Murray, like Samsonov before him, was perfect in his debut.  It’s weird, but I don’t think 28 year olds who have risen to the top of their profession on multiple occasions just forget how to be the best.

But Matt Murray wasn’t even the best part of this bizarre and crazy game.

No that would be Calle Jarnkrok and Alex Kerfoot playing for two periods as defenseman.

And the Leafs getting a shut-out despite the fact that Calle Jarnkrok and Alex Kerfoot skated as defensemen.  Matthews, Marner and Tavaers (Injured) were all absent as well.

Montreal isn’t a good team you guys.

The reason that Jarnkrok and Kerfoot had to play defense was because Jordie Benn and Carl Dahlstrom were both injured in the first period.

As if the Leafs were not injured enough already, Benn and Dahlstrom will join Tavares, Engvall, Liljegren and Muzzin on the injured reserve.

Things are getting quite crazy, but what can you do? There are 31 teams and one of them has to have the most injuries in training camp!

The crazy thing is that the Leafs have ten NHL defensemen in the organization, if you count Dahlstrom,  and currently five of them are unable to play, if you count Sandin.

Rielly, Brodie, Giordano, Holl and Mete are healthy.

Muzzin, Sandin, Liljegren, Benn and Dahlstrom are out.

If the season started tomorrow, the Toronto Maple Leafs would have to start the defensemen who is 11th on their depth chart.

I wonder how many people had Mikko Kokkonen making the team this year, but he appears to be a lock now! (I’m kidding. Sort of).

Anyways, this was a pretty fun game for the preseason, and Matt Murray is now on track to post an NHL record goals against average of 0.00 , which would be quite the comeback indeed! (Again, kidding).