Murray, on the goalies

Here’s what Terry Murray said, after today’s morning skate, about his decision to start Jonathan Bernier in goal tonight against Dallas…

MURRAY: “I want to see him. I think he has played very well this year in Manchester and he is very deserving of the opportunity. When you move by another goaltender, Ersberg, in this situation, it’s not to be viewed as an, `I can win with one and not the other’ kind of an attitude. That’s something that I was concerned about yesterday. I thought about it. I talked with Ersberg after the skate here and explained my reasoning, and I think at the end of the conversation there was an understanding between us, what the reason was.”

Question: What are you expecting from Bernier tonight? Have you been able to watch tapes or anything of his games in Manchester?

MURRAY: “I don’t watch too many tapes of what is going on in Manchester. It’s all the reports. It’s what I saw in his game in the training camp, through the development camp. I saw a much-improved hockey player, and the statistics back it up this year, with what he’s done in the minors. The team was in first place for most of the year. Unfortunately, they were hit by the injury bug and a lot of important players are out of the lineup because of the injuries. He has done yeoman’s work, in keeping everything in order. At the end of the day, he’s a player that, again, deserves an opportunity when called up into this situation. Quite frankly, he might only be here for this one game. That’s the opportunity that I want to take advantage of.”

Question: Is that the plan, for this to be a one-game thing, or would you bring him back to L.A. too?

MURRAY: “I don’t know the answer to that. I’m assuming that’s the way it would work out. I need to talk to Dean about that, whether he would come back to L.A. with us tonight, just making sure that everything is settled there with the Quick family, then make a decision.”