2015 NHL Draft
SHARE
Share with your Friends


Murray skips Blue Jackets practice, will play Game 1

Monday, 04.14.2014 / 3:13 PM

By NHL.com Staff -  / Penguins-Blue Jackets series blog

Share with your Friends


Penguins-Blue Jackets series blog
Murray skips Blue Jackets practice, will play Game 1

Columbus Blue Jackets rookie defenseman Ryan Murray was held out of practice Monday for a maintenance day but coach Todd Richards said Murray, recovered from a knee injury, will play in Game 1 against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, CBC) in the Eastern Conference First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Initially expected to miss the remainder of the regular season after having arthroscopic knee surgery in March, Murray returned April 4 and played in five games. He sat out the season finale Saturday against the Florida Panthers as a precaution. The No. 2 pick of the 2012 NHL Draft was hurt during Columbus' 2-1 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 3 and had surgery four days later.

Murray, 20, had four goals, 17 assists and a plus-4 rating in 66 regular-season games. He has one goal and a plus-2 rating in five games since returning.

Richards told reporters earlier this month that he had no hesitation of playing Murray with Columbus chasing a playoff spot, which it clinched April 8 in a 3-1 win against the Dallas Stars in the continuation of a March 10 game postponed after Stars forward Rich Peverley collapsed on the bench.

"He [Murray] has earned my confidence in him, based on his decisions, his calmness with the puck, his poise and how he defends," Richards said.

Forwards Nick Foligno (lower body) and R.J. Umberger (upper body) have been ruled out for Wednesday, but Richards anticipates each being ready at some point during the series.

NHL.TV™

NHL GameCenter LIVE™ is now NHL.TV™.
Watch out-of-market games and replays with an all new redesigned media player, mobile and connected device apps.

LEARN MORE

NHL Mobile App

Introducing the new official NHL App, available for iPhone, iPad and Android smartphones and tablets. A host of new features and improved functionality are available across all platforms, including a redesigned league-wide scoreboard, expanded news coverage, searchable video highlights, individual team experiences* and more. The new NHL App on your tablet also introduces new offerings such as 60fps video, Multitasking** and Picture-in-Picture.

*Available only for smartphones
** Available only for suported iPads