Nov 25, 2021
With Murray winless, Smith says Sens need a goalie 'to steal one for us'
Matt Murray dropped to 0-5 to start the season as he allowed four goals on 23 shots in the Ottawa Senators 6-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday.
TSN.ca Staff
Matt Murray dropped to 0-5 to start the season as he allowed four goals on 23 shots in the Ottawa Senators 6-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday.
Senators head coach D.J. Smith pointed to goaltending as the separating factor between his team and the Sharks, who had James Reimer stop 23 of the 26 shots he faced.
"We deserved better. A point, or two," Smith said postgame. "The difference tonight is probably their goaltending."
“I didn’t mind our details. I just think we’ve got to get someone to take the net for us and start to win us some games when we give that effort. We need someone to get in there and hold us right now. We’re a young team that needs someone to steal one for us, probably.”
Murray has a 3.26 goals-against average and .890 save percentage in six games this season, He had a 10-13-1 record last season with a 3.38 GAA and a .893 save percentage in his first year with the Senators after being acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The 27-year-old, who won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Penguins, carries a $6.25 million cap hit on the four-year, $25 million deal he signed with the Senators following the trade last year.
With Murray limited by injuries and time in the COVID protocol this season, Filip Gustavsson has appeared in eight games, posting a 3-4-1 record with a .905 save percentage and a 3.41 goals-against average. Anton Forsberg has also seen time in five games this year, going 1-3 with an .884 save percentage and a 4.56 GAA.
The Senators, who dropped to 4-12-1 with Wednesday's loss, will visit the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.