Maple Leafs’ Murray ready to attack next challenge as he returns to practice

TORONTO — In a lengthy one-on-one Zoom conversation with his long-serving goalie guru, Jon Elkin, Matt Murray once explained his secret to dealing with the violent emotional swings of hockey’s most critical position.

Murray’s secret is there is no secret.

Attempting to impose perfection on a job splattered with imperfections will only drive a man nuts. As a result, you’re better served accepting that pucks, games, health, trades, everything will not always fall in your favour.

It’s the nature of the beast — and, boy, the beast can be vicious.

“Ups and downs are just a fact. A fact of life. A fact of hockey. You’re going to have both,” Murray reasons in that uploaded video chat. “Looking at it that way, you can kinda separate yourself from it a bit. Maybe that takes the pressure off.”

Through his tumultuous journey — a ride soaring to the stratosphere with a pair of Stanley Cup wins and plummeting to the depths of personal loss and a troublesome concussion history — Murray has trained his brain to focus on what is immediately in his eyesight.

Each morning is a fresh slate. Do your best to attack it with a clear mind.

The goal, Murray figures, is to be leave the rink better than when you arrived. Over time, that approach will compound good days and lead to positive results.

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“Listen. You’re nothing when you get to the rink, and you’re nothing when you leave the rink. It’s what you do in between that’s going to make you something,” Murray philosophizes.

“Going through down times is just a part of life. For one, it makes you appreciate the good times.”

Doubters are loaded with ammunition — how the heck can Murray’s body hold up for the Toronto Maple Leafs if he got injured after one start and one morning skate? — yet Murray has poured himself into this monthlong rehabilitation believing good times await on the horizon.

Toronto’s third-string netminder, Erik Källgren, has held the fort admirably, securing five of six points against league powers over a hectic four-day run.

Fifth-string emergency option — the hastily signed Keith Petruzzelli — has popped up as a compelling curiosity, considering he’s started more ECHL games than AHL ones.

But with No. 1B option Ilya Samsonov still week-to-week with a knee injury, Murray’s return Wednesday to full-speed team practice is a welcome sight.

“Felt really good. Excited to be back on the ice,” Murray told reporters following the session, his first since pulling an adductor muscle on Oct. 15.

“It’s an injury I’ve never had before. Kinda came out of nowhere. So, it was definitely disappointing and a little bit frustrating. But I tried not to sit with those (emotions) too long; those can be pretty useless. So, I turned my energy and my focus to the rehab.”

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By all accounts, the 28-year-old’s recovery has been a smooth one. In fact, “a little bit ahead of the schedule,” per coach Sheldon Keefe.

So encouraged have the Leafs medical and performance experts been that they targeted Saturday’s home tilt against the Vancouver Canucks as a reasonable return date — exactly four weeks, the original minimum, from the groin pull.

A second practice day Thursday, and a positive response from Murray’s body afterward, might just delay Petruzzelli’s NHL dream.

“We’re on track here. We’ve just got to make sure we’re smart about it, and that Matt’s feeling comfortable,” Keefe said.

“He’s an important part of the team here, and we haven’t been able to have him around.”

Murray himself doesn’t sound like a guy ready to jump the gun.

As always, he’s putting in the work and sticking to his day-to-day methodology.

Leaping ahead could leave him behind.

Maple Leafs fans know this all too well having endured the Petr Mrazek experience in 2021-22.

The player is going to play this smart, as should the organization.

“We’ve got the best of the best staff here. They put us in a great spot to heal, and we do things properly here. So, moving forward, it shouldn’t be an issue,” Murray said.

“Looking forward to getting back in there and contributing.”

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