The Phoenix Coyotes demoted defenseman Connor Murphy to the AHL’s Portland Pirates on Sunday. That’s despite Murphy scoring a game-winning goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning in his NHL debut on Saturday:
(Sure, that made it 4-1 at the time, so it bumps the game-winner down a notch or two, but still.)
The Coyotes have been generating plenty of offense from the blueline without the 20-year-old blueliner, so maybe his work isn’t really needed. If nothing else, Murphy can point back to tomorrow’s goal and build on it toward a longer stay in the NHL.