Penguins goaltender Matt Murray's focus remains same, even after 3 months off

If social distancing was a competition, Matt Murray would have his photo on the league leaders page of the NHL’s website.

During the NHL’s hiatus over the past three months because of the coronavirus pandemic, Murray was holed up in his home in Muskoka, Ont., a small seasonal community on the northeast coast of Georgian Bay within Lake Huron.

Roughly two hours north of Toronto, Murray was alone with his wife, his two dogs and his thoughts.

Few of those ruminations were devoted to his vocation.

“The biggest thing for me has honestly just been staying safe and keeping my family safe during this time,” Murray said during a video conference call with local media Tuesday. “It’s obviously been a strange time and unprecedented for us. That’s where most of my focus has been. Honestly, it’s been nice to spend more time with my wife. For the most part, I sort of distanced myself from hockey and didn’t think much about it until things started ramping back up again.”

Murray is back in the Pittsburgh area, and for the past weeks, he has been part of a group of Penguins who have been participating in optional workouts at the team’s facility in Cranberry, preparing for a potential postseason tournament later this summer.

“We’re making the best of the situation,” Murray said. “The skates so far have gone really, really well. I can speak for our little group, it’s gone very well. The pace has been really good. The competition has been really good.”

During the final weeks of the regular season before the pause in play, things were looking good for Murray — or more accurately, better than they had earlier in the campaign.

After struggling badly during a 14-game stretch throughout November and December in which he went 4-3-4 with a 3.59 goals-against average and an .870 save percentage, Murray lost the starting role to Tristan Jarry. Following New Year’s, Murray leveled off his game while platooning with Jarry. In 15 games, Murray had a 9-5-1 mark with a 2.73 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage.

Everything seems to point toward Murray getting the nod over Jarry should the NHL playoffs take place.

The two-time Stanley Cup champion was diplomatic, as he is on most matters, when asked about the prospect of competing with Jarry that role.

“For me personally, all I can do is focus on what I can control and put my best effort forward in every practice and every game in trying to get prepared,” Murray said. “Just making the best of the situation that we’re in. That’s putting in the hours now and doing everything we can to be prepared for when the puck drops. Every individual on the ice is going to be working to help the team have success. That includes myself, and I’m going to do everything I can to be sharp and be at my best to help this team win another Stanley Cup.”

Whatever success Murray possibly enjoys this postseason, there is the considerable question of where he will be playing next season.

A pending restricted free agent, Murray has a resume that could command a hefty and lengthy deal, even if the Penguins have contract control. But with the NHL’s finances and salary cap potentially impacted negatively by the hiatus, Murray and all pending free agents will be embarking on an uncharted economic landscape this offseason.

Add in the ascension of Jarry, who was an All-Star this season, and the looming expansion draft for the Seattle franchise in 2021, and Murray’s future is far but certain.

Murray is, again, diplomatic as to that conundrum.

“I don’t think too much about that, honestly,” said Murray, who has maintained a policy of not discussing specifics of his contract negotiations. “That’s kind of out my control. What I’m really focused on right now is just preparing myself to be the best that I can be on the ice. The rest of the stuff, I think will take care of itself. So I’m not really thinking too much about that.”

At the moment, most of Murray’s thoughts appear to be geared toward his team entering a postseason tournament format the NHL has jury-rigged under dire circumstances.

“I don’t think there necessarily was any one option that would keep everybody happy or be the perfect option,” Murray said. “This is I think the best option on the table, and we’re going to make the most of it. In terms of preparation, I would say it’s similar to the normal playoffs. It’s just an extra (preliminary round) series. The fact that we’ve been off for such a long time kind of makes it feel a little bit more like a tournament and just kind of builds the excitement. It’s great. It’s the best that we can do in the situation. I know me personally and our team, we’re looking forward to the challenge.”