McKenna’s Matchup of the Day: Mar. 18 – Matt Murray vs. Mads Sogaard

Former NHL netminder Mike McKenna provides his Daily Faceoff Starting Goalie Matchup of the Day for Sat. Mar. 18, 2023:

Why I like this matchup:

Neither goalie has posted a save percentage above 90 percent in their last five games played. So which one will rebound? Murray still has a chance to grab the Maple Leafs net for the Stanley Cup playoffs. And Sogaard is trying to prove he belongs in the NHL. Plenty of motivation to go around in tonight’s matchup.

What to watch for:

Whether the goals Murray gives up look good or bad, the simple fact is that he hasn’t stopped as many as his goalie partner, Ilya Samsonov. Since Jan. 1, Murray owns an .870 save percentage and has only won three of eight starts. Compare that to Samsonov, who’s 13-5-43 during the same span with a .916 save percentage. Murray has allowed exactly four goals in all four of his recent starts.

Granted, Murray spent a lot of time out of the lineup with injuries. But with the postseason less than a month away, can the 2-time Stanley Cup winner regain form? His technical game has looked fairly solid, but the pucks still find a way past him. Murray tends to come across stiff and robotic: if he can loosen up, maybe there’s still time to claim the Leafs crease.

With regular Sens goalies Cam Talbot and Anton Forsberg sidelined with injuries, Mads Sogaard has been tasked with defending the Ottawa net. And it’s been an uphill battle for the 22-year-old from Denmark. He’s allowed 23 goals in his last five games and only won once.

At 6-foot-7, Sogaard fills plenty of space. But his skating needs to improve to compete at the NHL level. He’s been thrust into a difficult position, and without much of a safety net, I wonder if this extended cameo will hurt Sogaard in the long run. The problem is that Ottawa has no choice other than to play him.

What fantasy owners should do:

Two high-scoring teams are facing off, and both goalies have struggled to find saves lately. I wouldn’t start Murray or Sogaard.

Bottom line for Matt Murray:

Time is running out.

Bottom line for Mads Sogaard:

Toronto is in the second game of a back-to-back series. Early saves will be critical for the Sens netminder.