Matt Murray ProRead 1
With Matt Murray
4 Keys to Managing Screens and Cross-Body Shots
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Matt Murray is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with eight NHL seasons under his belt, and if you ask him (we did), a lot of his success is based on his ability to read and anticipate plays.
“I see my game as one where my athleticism is not necessarily my strongest suit, so these reads are kind of the equalizer for a guy like me,” Murray said during a recent hour-long film session with InGoal. “I’ve for the size and I’ve got the brain for it — I read the play well — but there are a lot of guys in the League that are a lot more athletic than I am and it’s a good lesson for young goalies that there are other equalizers, you don’t always have to be just the best athlete. Being good with these types of reads and little technical details can really help your game.”
If Murray sounds like another perfect candidate for Pro Reads, you guessed right. His first entry deals with screens, an area he excelled statistically last season, according to Clear Sight Analytics, and beyond reading this play, it’s practically a how-to manual in traffic.
THE SAVE SEQUENCE
Murray is facing a screen chance during 5-on-5 play against the Calgary Flames in his Pro Reads debut, after his Toronto Maple Leafs turned the puck over trying to exit the defensive zone:
The behind-the-net replay gives us a great perspective on what Murray is dealing with as Flames defenseman Nikita Zadorov skates into the top of the face-off circle unchecked in the freeze frame above. At this point, what do you make of Murray’s positioning? What reasons can you see that he would choose to look around the screen on the short side like this?
Maybe make a list and you can compare notes with Murray’s below.
THE SEQUENCE
Before we get to Murray’s detailed breakdown, watch the entire sequence and replay:
Watching the play unfold, are there any other factors to add to your list for choosing a short-side sightline to find the puck? Is there anything you like about how Murray managed this situation and the cross-body shot that came from it? Anything you’d do different?
THE PRO READ
Let’s hear why Murray approached this screen with that short-side sightline:
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- Matt Murray breaks down his screened save during 5-on-5 play against the Calgary Flames, after Toronto turned the puck over in the defensive zone with Nikita Zadorov skating unchecked to the top of the face-off circle.
- Murray deliberately chooses a short-side sightline around the screen to locate the puck, a decision tied to specific reads he identifies in the play before the shot is released.
- Murray explains that elite reads and technical details can compensate for athleticism, making screened-shot positioning a teachable skill for goalies at any level.
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