NHL Playoffs Buzz: Murray back at practice for Maple Leafs

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Toronto Maple Leafs

Matt Murray participated in the Maple Leafs optional practice on Saturday, although there remains no timeline for his return.
The goalie has been out since sustaining a head injury on Apr. 2 after a collision with Lucas Raymond in a 5-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings.
"He's progressing well," coach Sheldon Keefe said. "He's been skating today, I'm not sure what number of skate this was but he was skating while we were away as well so he's making progress."
Toronto opens the Stanley Cup Playoffs at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning with Game 1 of the best-of-7 Eastern Conference First Round series on Monday (7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN, CBC, SNE, SNO, SNP, TVAS).
Murray was 14-8-2 with a 3.01 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage in 26 games.
Erik Gustafsson also participated in practice after he did not play the final three games of the regular season with an upper-body injury.
"Gustafsson had a good day today, so we are expecting him to be in practice tomorrow," Keefe said.
The defenseman has four assists in nine games with the Maple Leafs since being acquired from the Washington Capitals on Feb. 28.
Forward Sam Lafferty, who has missed the past three games for personal reasons, is travelling to Toronto on Saturday and expected to be with the team on Sunday. --Dave McCarthy

Florida Panthers

Sam Bennett, who missed the final 12 games of the regular season with an undisclosed injury, skated Saturday and will accompany his teammates on their trip to Boston for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round series against the Bruins (7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN, CBC, SNE, SNO, SNP, TVAS, NESN).
Panthers coach Paul Maurice said there was a chance that Bennett could return to the lineup during the series.
"He skated on a different sheet than us, so if he comes back strong tomorrow, he'll skate again on his own, and then we'll start working him into practice," Maurice said.
Bennett last played in a 5-2 victory against the Detroit Red Wings on March 20, his seventh game back after he had missed six games with the same injury he currently has.
Bennett had 40 points (16 goals, 24 assists) in 63 games during the regular season, mainly centering a line with Eetu Luostarinen and Matthew Tkachuk . -- Alain Poupart

Los Angeles Kings

Alexander Edler will be available for the Kings against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of the best-of-seven Western Conference First Round series on Monday (10 p.m. ET; ESPN, CBC, TVAS, SN, BSW).
Edler, a defenseman, missed the last five games of the regular season because of an upper-body injury. He was a full participant in practice on Saturday after having worked out wearing a non-contact jersey earlier in the week.
"He's very fit," Kings coach Todd McLellan said. "He's got a ton of experience. He can go in and play."
Edler had 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 64 games this season. The 36-year-old has played in 89 playoff games for the Vancouver Canucks and Kings.
Gabriel Vilardi, a forward, skated in a non-contact jersey on his own before practice. He missed the last nine games because of an upper-body injury.
McLellan did not say if Vilardi and Kevin Fiala, a forward who missed 13 of the final 16 games because of a lower-body injury, would travel with the team to Edmonton.
"No update," McLellan said. "Just whenever they're ready they'll play." -- Dan Greenspan

Winnipeg Jets

Nikolaj Ehlers is questionable for Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round series against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday (9:30 p.m. ET; ESPN2, SNW, TVAS2, ATTSN-RM) because of an upper-body injury.
The forward is listed as day to day.
"We'll see how he feels on Tuesday," Jets coach Rick Bowness said Saturday. "You never know. When we get there on Tuesday, we'll know for sure."
Ehlers was injured in 3-1 win against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday after he was hit by Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman. Hartman was suspended for one game for interference.
Ehlers, who did not play in the Jets regular-season finale on Thursday (4-2 loss to Colorado Avalanche) had 38 points (12 goals, 26 assists) in 45 games this season. Including seven points (three goals, four assists) in his final six games.
"I'm good to go," Ehlers said following an optional practice in Winnipeg on Saturday. "You know, personally for me, there really hasn't been much concern. I feel ready to go… I never thought there was no chance of me playing. It's the playoffs, I want to play."
The hit occurred with 8:29 remaining in the third period, but Ehlers said he was cleared to return.
"Well, I did finish the game. I came back but just wasn't put on the ice," Ehlers said. "I was skating back -- I probably should have had my head up -- and trying to backcheck, as (Wild forward Kirill) Kaprizov is a pretty good skater so I knew I had to get back too. I don't know. I kind of got hit. I didn't see that one coming. But that's the way it is." -- Darrin Bauming