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Matt Murray was not on the ice Sunday at the Canadian Tire Center.
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And there is no timetable for his return to the Ottawa Senators network.
The 27-year-old goalkeeper was placed on injured reserve with a head / neck injury after being hit by New York Rangers winger Chris Kreider after he scored the goal with 5:23 left in the third to start a furious comeback from opponents in Ottawa’s 3-2 loss on Saturday afternoon at home.
The Senators called in goalkeeper Filip Gustavsson from their AHL affiliate in Belleville on Sunday and Anton Forsberg will start against the Washington Capitals on Monday night to close out this four-game home stand.
“Kreider hit (Murray) in the crease. I don’t know if it’s that (a concussion), I think it’s more his neck, but he couldn’t go on, ”Smith Sunday said.
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This has been a difficult stretch for Murray and the senators. To be successful this season, Ottawa needs its best goalkeeper to play well and there is no question that Murray was strong before he left the game. He had stolen Kreider earlier in the third with a spectacular glove save.
Murray missed the first three games of the season due to the flu.
He struggled with injuries last season and was placed in the Injury Reserve three times. Murray dressed for 27 games with the Senators after being traded here by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Since it’s on IR, it won’t be available until the Senators play next Monday night in Chicago.
“It has to be frustrating for him. He was playing really well, the best he has, and he was playing really well, ”Smith said. “If he doesn’t get hurt, we are probably seeing a different result. It’s pretty difficult for Forsberg to get in, icy at that point, and being asked to make a Grade ‘A’ stop after a Grade ‘A’ stop.
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“If (Murray) doesn’t get hurt, we probably have a point or more (against the Rangers). I’m sure (Murray) is as frustrated as everyone, but injuries are part of the game. Hopefully, he can come back and stay healthy. “
The senators are fortunate that the goal is a fortress, so Forsberg will start against Alex Ovechkin and the Caps. Yes, Forsberg gave up two goals in the end against the Rangers, but he can’t be blamed for what happened because he was sitting on the bench all afternoon.
“It was really good. You can’t judge him on that. You sit there the whole game and you go in when it’s hot. He was phenomenal against Toronto, he’s a good goalkeeper and I have the utmost confidence in him, ”Smith said.
Despite the difficult defeat, the Senators are confident in the way they play. For 54 minutes, the club controlled the New York game until a costly penalty from Parker Kelly allowed Kreider to start the comeback with the goal in which Murray was injured.
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No one can argue that the 22-year-old Kelly is a strong competitor, but he can’t afford to take infractions like the hook call with 13:48 left in the game with the Senators up 2-0 on Sunday. a large part of the reason. Kelly was sent back to Belleville because there has to be responsibility.
Winger Scott Sabourin skated on the fourth row on Sunday and that’s where he will start on Monday when he makes his season debut.
“It will give us some energy,” Smith said. “He has been hungry to enter, he will get on the check, they are a big, strong and heavy team. It will allow you to go back a bit. They are one of the most important teams in the league. They are good players, they are great, everyone is great, so we will have to get into the check and generate turnovers. He’s good at it. “
As the skating ended, Smith had a long talk with winger Brady Tkachuk because, let’s be honest, the way the Senators lost could linger. Smith wanted to make sure that was not the case.
“I just want to make sure everyone is buzzing and I wanted to see how things are going in the room,” Smith said.
Yes, it is time for the senators to move on and they have a great challenge ahead of them.
Reference-ottawasun.com