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TORONTO -- Matt Murray will get the start in goal for the Toronto Maple Leafs when they begin the regular season on Wednesday against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre in Montreal (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN, ESPN+).
Ilya Samsonov will start on Thursday in Toronto's home opener against the Washington Capitals.
Coach Sheldon Keefe said the opportunity to start Samsonov against his former team did not factor into his decision. Samsonov played 89 games (79 starts) over three seasons for the Capitals after the team selected him in the first round (No. 22) of the 2015 NHL Draft,
"No, it didn't. It's just a matter of we really wanted Murray to get the first game and get rolling that way," Keefe said. "'Sammy' has been terrific. I thought both goalies in practice today were really, really strong right from their goalie session and then into practice. I thought those guys, in my mind at least, made a statement in the practice with how they competed and how they were solid in the net.
"It's just Murray is going to go the first game and the schedule is what it is, maybe not absolutely ideal but maybe it is, I don't know."
Murray, acquired from the Ottawa Senators on July 11, had a .969 save percentage in three preseason appearances. Samsonov, who signed a one-year, $1.8 million contract with the Maple Leafs on July 13, had a .917 save percentage in three preseason appearances.
Captain John Tavares , who sustained an oblique injury on Sept. 24 in a preseason win against the Senators, was a full participant in practice Monday after skating with Toronto's non-game group on Saturday.
"That was the thought today, go out there like a normal practice," Tavares said. "I had a good response after Saturday, so just wanted to get myself back out there and back with the group competing just like I normally would, just tried to have that mindset. And it was good to just go out there and just play and compete and not have to try to be measured or feel my way through things. I think I have hit those boxes and checked them off."
Tavares centered a line with left wing Denis Malgin and right wing William Nylander . The injury was originally expected to keep him out of Toronto's season-opening game but he said it is a possibility he could be ready to play against the Canadiens.
"Chances probably only grow with every day," Tavares said.
Keefe said that if Tavares cannot play against Montreal, the Maple Leafs' lineup would be a player short due to salary cap constraints. But, he is expecting Tavares to approach practice Tuesday as though he will be ready to start the season on time.
"I thought he looked good," Keefe said. "Most importantly he got through the entire practice so that's an encouraging sign for tomorrow's practice. So, I think the plan would be that if all goes well the rest of the day, he would come to tomorrow's practice as though he is preparing to play, that would be the plan. He's day to day at this point."
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