Matt Murray Pro Reads 13
With Matt Murray
Managing In-Tight Breakaways off Long Lateral Passes
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Matt Murray was back in the NHL with the Seattle Kraken this season after overcoming double hip surgery the year before, and that gave us a chance to catch up with the two-time Stanley Cup winner and long-time InGoal favourite when it comes to Pro Reads.
Anyone who listened to Murray past video breakdowns already knows how well he sees and processes the game. The 11-year NHL veteran is exceptional in this format, highlighted by a master class on managing screens in his Pro Reads debut, and we’d strongly suggest going back through those original entries (below) after you watch this latest breakdown.
THE SEQUENCE
This time Murray, who only appeared in five games this season but posted a .922 save percentage, is facing a rush chance against the Washington Capitals, with a net drive option behind the defense as Tom Wilson skates down right wing with the puck:
We’ve already given away what comes next based on the headline but looking at the freeze frame above and knowing that backside net drive is going to get the puck, what’s your next move as a goalie? What do you make of Murray’s positioning as the pass is made?
Where would you want to be when the player catches that pass, and what factors might change that? What’s that player most likely to do next? Can your positioning impact that?
The Save
Watch it play out in real time and ask yourself those same questions:
What did you make of Murray’s conservative depth choice back to the post?
Would you have been more aggressive with depth on the initial push, maybe even tried to get out and flow back?
What benefits can you see to the way Murray handed this?
THE PRO READ
Now, let’s hear Murray what was thinking as this play unfolded:
Murray names exactly what he's watching for as the far-side player approaches the blue line — and the specific cue that tells him this won't be a direct pass comes next in the breakdown.
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- Matt Murray breaks down his save on a net-drive rush against Washington, where Tom Wilson carried the puck down the right wing before an area pass to a backside player.
- Murray identified early that the far-side player had enough speed to beat the defenseman, which told him the pass would be slow and indirect rather than a hard direct feed.
- Murray chose conservative depth back to his post rather than pushing aggressively, explaining that the receiving player — a lefty — had too many options (shot, pull, five-hole, wraparound) to justify overplaying the play.
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