CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- A towel all but covering his face, Matt Murray spoke -- what few words that he could get out -- in barely a whisper.
His eyes red, hands visibly shaking, and his lower lip quivering, Murray wanted to deliver a message before the team's media relations director mercifully stopped the questioning short.
"I guess I just want to say big thanks, first of all, to Pittsburgh," Murray said choking up. "The team did a lot for me, helping me get back home. Thanks to my teammates ... "
Contrary to the game's macho image, crying is permitted in hockey. It's seen all the time after wins, losses and retirements, but this was different.
This was Murray, after all. A 23-year-old whose steely resolve and calm demeanor has propelled the Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships. Alas, he's human too.
This was a young man who was still coming to grips with the death of his father, James Murray, less than a week earlier.
As the Penguins were beginning a three-game road trip in California, Murray returned home to Thunder Bay, Ontario, to be with his family. That came after Murray missed time on a personal leave of absence.
On Monday, following his first practice since, Murray was surrounded by his extended Penguins family, calling the ice his "sanctuary."
"Felt really good today to just get out there and have some fun," he said. "It meant a lot to me."
After reporters dispersed to their smartphones to tweet out the heart-breaking scene, Chad Ruhwedel scooted over from his place two locker stalls down. The journeyman defenseman patted the goalie on his pads and threw an arm around him.
"It's a great way to get over certain things and being around the guys and all the support," Ruhwedel said. "We're just trying to help him as much as we can through tough times."
As a fellow goalie, Tristan Jarry is perhaps closest to Murray.
They are often segregated together during practices and in meetings, relying and leaning on each other for tips and techniques. Jarry has also known Murray the longest of any Penguin. They attended Hockey Canada camps together as teenagers. When they were drafted by Pittsburgh a year apart -- in 2012 and '13 -- they roomed together during developmental camps.
"I think that's when our bond kind of came together," Jarry said. "It's one of those things where you get closer and closer over time. I think we've built a great friendship together."
That they are fighting for the same No. 1 spot is almost secondary to their friendship.
"It helps with the competition, we're able to push each other and we're able to go out to eat after," Jarry said. "I think that's something that helps a lot with us, helps us stay focused and helps us stay positive and helps us lift each other when needed."
Lifting up Murray is what the Penguins plan to do in the days and weeks ahead. Mike Sullivan did not announce when Murray will return to game action, though that could be as soon as Tuesday night when the Penguins host the Hurricanes at PPG Paints Arena.
Soon after taking over as coach in Pittsburgh, Sullivan took a leave of absence when his own mother, Myrna, died in February of 2016 at age 78.
"It's hard to lose a parent," Sullivan said. "It's a difficult time. Everybody grieves differently. As his coaching staff and teammates, we're just trying to be there and be supportive of him in anyway we can to help him through this."
Murray is 15-12-1 with a 2.93 goals-against average and .903 save percentage this season, disappointing results considering his career NHL averages of 2.52 and .918.
Surely his father's condition weighed heavily on his mind but Murray sounded relieved to be back with his team.
"I don't want to be a distraction," he said. "We have some important games coming up. It's back to business, I guess."
• After eight NHL games and just two goals, Daniel Sprong was reassigned to Wilkes-Barre.
• Sullivan confirmed that Bryan Rust was cleared for contact for the first time since sustaining an upper body injury Dec. 27 vs. the Blue Jackets.
• Matt Hunwick was shaken up late in practice after taking a hit from behind from Sprong and left the ice for observation. He reported no problems later.