TORONTO — Matt Murray started for the Toronto Maple Leafs in their season opener at the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday.
Murray, who was acquired from the Ottawa Senators on July 11, had a .969 save percentage in three preseason games.
Ilya Samsonov will get the start in Toronto’s home opener against the Washington Capitals on Thursday. 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 games.
Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said the opportunity to start Samsonov against his former team did not factor into his decision. Samsonov played 89 games (79 starts) over three seasons for the Capitals after they selected him in the first round (No. 22) of the 2015 NHL Draft.
“It’s just a matter of we really wanted Murray to get the first game and get rolling that way,” Keefe said. “‘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 practice with how they competed and how they were solid in the net.
“It’s just Murray is going to go the first game and the schedule is what it is, maybe not absolutely ideal but maybe it is, I don’t know.”
Center John Tavares, who sustained an oblique injury in a preseason win against the Senators on Sept. 24, also played against the Canadiens. The Maple Leafs captain was initially expected to be out at least three weeks but practiced in full for a second straight day Tuesday on a line with forwards. Denis Malgin and William Nylander.
“It gives the team a boost and a jolt for sure,” Keefe said. “His talent and what he brings to our team, he makes us that much more dynamic and harder to check and defend. And he’s our captain so having the presence of your captain right from the start of the season is always good, certainly better than not. Power play, all those kind of things right from the start of the season, everything is in place just sort of how you envisioned it coming in so to that end, we are thrilled to have him back.”
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