Murray makes 24 saves, wins NHL return with Maple Leafs against Sabres

It’s his first NHL win since March 23, 2023 (6-2 vs. Florida Panthers). Murray did not play in the NHL during the 2023–24 season after undergoing bilateral hip surgery in October 2023, returning late in the season to play three games for Toronto of the American Hockey League in April.

“It was a busy day, a lot of emotions,” Murray said. “I tried to keep them in check for the most part, because of course there is a game to play. But I was able to take a moment there in warmups and during the anthem and just kind of look around and appreciate the long journey it’s been and think about all the people who helped me get here.

“After that I just tried to immerse myself in the game. And luckily the team played well in front of me tonight. So super happy to win.”

William Nylander had a goal and two assists, and Bobby McMann, Max Domi and Nicholas Robertson each had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs (21-10-2), who have won five of their last six games.

“I think we’re all so happy for (Murray) for what he’s been through,” Domi said. “Remarkable. The resilience and the ability to stick with it mentally, out of all those days where I’m sure he had a lot of doubt in there and it’s a long road to recovery. We’re all super proud of him.”

JJ Peterka, Owen Power and Mattias Samuelsson each had a goal and an assist for the Sabers (11-18-4), who have lost 12 straight (0-9-3). Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen allowed four goals on 13 shots before being replaced by James Reimer (14 saves) in the second period.

“Shooting ourselves in the foot, poor puck control,” Samuelsson said. “To be honest, I don’t think Toronto did anything crazy to beat us. We kind of did it by ourselves. They’re a good team, they’ve got good players. If you feed their transition game, they’ll obviously using capital. So yeah, we’re just shooting ourselves in the foot.”

McMann gave Toronto a 1-0 lead at 1:29 of the first period, taking a pass from Domi at the bottom of the right circle on a 3-on-1 and snapping it under Luukkonen’s left arm.

Auston Matthews made it 2-0 with a power-play goal from under the right circle at 6:05.

Robertson slipped a five-hole wrist shot at Luukkonen from the right circle to extend it to 3-0 at 1:53 of the second period.

“All three of them can skate,” Toronto coach Craig Berube said of the line of Robertson, Domi and McMann, who each extended their point streak to three games. “And when there’s a breakdown, they quickly go the other way, and they did that today on two of the goals. And then another goal, it’s just hunting in the offensive zone using their quickness and their skating and persistence. That’s what I see in them right now.”