TORONTO — Matt Murray gets the start in purpose for the Toronto Maple Leafs after they start the common season on Wednesday in opposition to the Montreal Canadiens on the Bell Centre in Montreal (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN, ESPN+).
Ilya Samsonov will start on Thursday in Toronto’s house opener in opposition to the Washington Capitals.
Coach Sheldon Keefe stated the chance to start Samsonov in opposition to his former workforce didn’t issue into his determination. Samsonov performed 89 video games (79 begins) over 3 seasons for the Capitals after the workforce decided on him in the primary spherical (No. 22) of the 2015 NHL Draft,
“No, it didn’t. It’s just a matter of we really wanted Murray to get the first game and get rolling that way,” Keefe stated. “‘Sammy’ has been terrific. I thought both goalies in practice today were really, really strong right from their goalie session and then into practice. I thought those guys, in my mind at least, made a statement in the practice with how they competed and how they were solid in the net.
“It’s simply Murray goes to cross the primary sport and the agenda is what it’s, perhaps no longer completely perfect however perhaps it’s, I do not know.”
Murray, acquired from the Ottawa Senators on July 11, had a .969 save percentage in three preseason appearances. Samsonov, who signed a one-year, $1.8 million contract with the Maple Leafs on July 13, had a .917 save percentage in three preseason appearances.
Captain John Tavares, who sustained an oblique injury on Sept. 24 in a preseason win against the Senators, was a full participant in practice Monday after skating with Toronto’s non-game group on Saturday.
“That was once the concept as of late, cross available in the market like an ordinary follow,” Tavares said. “I had a excellent reaction after Saturday, so simply sought after to get myself again available in the market and again with the crowd competing similar to I usually would, simply attempted to have that mindset. And it was once excellent to simply cross available in the market and simply play and compete and no longer have to take a look at to be measured or really feel my manner thru issues. I feel I’ve hit the ones bins and checked them off.”
Tavares targeted a line with left wing Denis Malgin and proper wing William Nylander. The injury was originally expected to keep him out of Toronto’s season-opening game but he said it is a possibility he could be ready to play against the Canadiens.
“Chances most definitely most effective develop with on a daily basis,” Tavares said.
Keefe said that if Tavares cannot play against Montreal, the Maple Leafs’ lineup would be a player short due to salary cap constraints. But, he is expecting Tavares to approach practice Tuesday as though he will be ready to start the season on time.
“I believed he regarded excellent,” Keefe said. “Most importantly he were given thru all the follow in order that’s an encouraging signal for the following day’s follow. So, I feel the plan can be that if all is going neatly the remainder of the day, he would come to the following day’s follow as even though he’s getting ready to play, that will be the plan. He’s day to day at this level.”