Penguins goaltender Matt Murray returned to practice with his teammates on Saturday afternoon at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, his first since suffering a concussion nearly three weeks ago.
"It was good," he said of the practice in the locker room afterward. "Today was a Skills Day so it was a little bit different from our usual practices. But still it was a lot of work for the goalies. That's good. It's good to be back out there with everybody."
Murray practices, eager to return
Though returning to practice is an important step in his progress to recovery, there is still no timetable on his possible return to game action.
"We'll take it one day at a time, see how I feel each day and go from there," Murray said.
The coaching staff like what they saw from the team's No. 1 netminder in practice.
"It's a big step for him," head coach Mike Sullivan said. "We'll see how he respond's to today's practice, but he certainly looked pretty good out there today."
Murray, who has missed the past nine games, suffered a concussion on Feb. 26 during practice when he was struck in the mask with a puck.
"These guys shoot the puck pretty darn hard, especially in practice. Every shot is Grade A, right in the slot," Murray said. "You can wear whatever you want on your head, wrap your head in bubble wrap. Sometimes stuff happens. It's out of your control."
Despite being injury on a shot to the mask, Murray won't hesitate to utilize his melon if the situation needs it.
"A lot of times you have to make the save with your head," he said. "If you flinch that's when you can get hurt because you're not reacting to it or able to absorb it. You try to avoid that. You just jump in, you almost forget about it once you're out there to be honest."
Murray also suffered a concussion late in the 2016 regular season and missed the opening contest of the postseason. He was able to return to the ice just a week later and led the Pens to a Stanley Cup championship.
This concussion has sidelined Murray for nearly three weeks, a longer recovery period than the previous. But Murray understands that you can't compare one concussion to another.
"Every one is different," he said. "You can't know what to expect."
Murray said he has no concerns over his long-term health due to the injury.
"That's the doctor's job. I'm no medical specialist," Murray said. "I just try to be honest with myself and how I'm feeling everyday and go from there."
Murray has missed over 20 games this season due to various injuries. But he understands that injuries are just a part of the game.
"It's out of my control," he said. "I'm only human. Sometimes stuff happens out there. It's a fast-paced game. They shoot the puck pretty hard. I don't think about that. I don't get frustrated. I just take what comes my way and try my best with it."
The next step coming Murray's way is returning to game action. And it's something he's eagerly anticipating, whenever that date may be.
"I've been itching to get back out there ever since I got hurt," he said. "It's never fun watching and not being able to participate in the game. I definitely miss that competition and a game-like atmosphere. I have to make sure I'm ready for it and completely over this thing."
Note: Zach Aston-Reese skated on his own following the team's practice ... Forward Carter Rowney will be out longer-term with an upper-body injury ... Phil Kessel was given a maintenance day from practice.
