The Pittsburgh Penguins have activated Matt Murray from injured reserve, the club announced Wednesday.
Murray’s been out of action since Nov. 17 while dealing with a lower-body injury. The 24-year-old had been hampered by the injury for a couple weeks before he was placed on IR to give him time to recover, according to head coach Mike Sullivan’s comments at the time.
In his absence, 27-year-old Casey DeSmith was handed the No. 1 reins in the Penguins crease, posting a .920 save percentage in nine appearances. Tristan Jarry, who has been assigned to the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins as a result of Murray’s return, slotted in for two of the club’s games with the usual starter sidelined, allowing two goals on 37 shots against the Boston Bruins and five goals on 25 shots against the Colorado Avalanche.
Murray, who’s gotten off to a tough start to 2018-19 that’s seen him post a lacklustre .877 save percentage and 4.08 goals-against average, practised with the Penguins Wednesday but is unsure if he’ll suit up for the club’s next game.
Pittsburgh will meet the Blackhawks Wednesday in Chicago before returning home for a back-to-back set against Boston and Los Angeles on Friday and Saturday.
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