Murray awaiting chance to return

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EL SEGUNDOSharks defenseman Douglas Murray missed his third straight game on Tuesday in Dallas despite taking warmups. He may have to wait a little longer to get back into the lineup even when fully healthy.

We like what were seeing right now. When we look at the back-end group its played really well for two games, Todd McLellan said on Wednesday. I thought Colin White has done a tremendous job of going in and moving pucks, and maybe has been one of our better guys in that situation.

Unless we have a 100 percent completely healthy player, it makes no sense to change the lineup with the way the guys have played. Well make a decision similar to what we did in Dallas, and go from there.

Murray skated with the Sharks again on Wednesday and certainly appears to have recovered from his lower body injury. When asked if he knew he was going to sit out on Tuesday in Dallas even before he took warmups, Murray said: I wouldnt warm up unless I thought I was going to play.

He added that whether or not he plays now is up to the coaches.

Its been a frustrating year for the defenseman in the injury department. He missed 10 games in December with a broken hand, and then another eight in late February and early March with a fractured Adams apple. Hes had to wear extra protection around his neck since his return to prevent any further damage.

White, meanwhile, has had three effective games in a row on the Sharks blue line. Hes averaged about 16 minutes over that span, and is scoreless with a 1 rating after sitting out nine of 10 as a healthy scratch.

That was new territory for the 34-year-old veteran, who signed with the Sharks in the offseason.

I wasnt ever used to sitting out, White said. Obviously, it was frustrating because you want to be playing. Just kept working hard in practice, staying in shape and staying ready.

Hes pleased with the way things have gone, as the Sharks try for their third straight win on Thursday in Los Angeles in an attempt to clinch a playoff spot.

Everybodys been playing good. This is the fun time of year, and everybodys doing little things and helping each other out, White said.

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