Ducks place GM Murray on leave amid probe of his conduct

The Anaheim Ducks placed executive vice president and general manager Bob Murray on leave Tuesday amid an ongoing investigation into his conduct.

The Ducks said in a statement they recently became aware of accusations of improper professional conduct against Murray, who is the third-longest-tenured general manager in the NHL.

The team did not specify the behavior Murray is accused of.

“After internal review, we enlisted (law firm) Sheppard Mullin to perform an independent investigation. Upon recommendation from their initial findings, we have decided to place Bob on administrative leave pending final results,” the statement said.

Assistant general manager Jeff Solomon will assume Murray’s duties on an interim basis.

Murray played 15 NHL seasons from 197590, all for the Chicago Blackhawks. He was a senior vice president with the Ducks when the team won the Stanley Cup in 2007. He was named the NHL’s General Manager of the Year in 2014 after Anaheim tied Boston for most wins in the league with 54.

The Ducks reached the playoffs in nine of Murray’s first 11 seasons as GM, but they have missed the postseason the past three years, tying for the longest streak in franchise history. He was the interim coach for the final two months of the 2018-19 season after Randy Carlyle was fired with 26 games remaining.

Mackenzie Blackwood made 34 saves and New Jersey Devils beat Florida, handing the Panthers a secondstraight loss in regulation after they went 11 games without one.

Florida lost for the first time in regulation against the Rangers on Monday at Madison Square Garden after a 10-0-1 start.

Vladislav Namestnikov scored in the first and second period, leading Detroit past Edmonton.

Patrice Bergeron scored the tiebreaking goal late in the second period and Boston held on to beat shorthanded Ottawa.

The Senators, who canceled practice Monday for precautionary reasons, were without five players and an assistant coach who have been placed on the COVID protocol list.

Martin Necas scored from the left circle 3:26 into overtime and Carolina won its 10th game of the season. Carolina also got a goal from Teuvo Teravainen.

The Hurricanes (10-1-1) set a team record for the fewest games to reach 10 wins. Carolina had its season-opening, nine-game winning streak end Saturday in a 5-2 loss at Florida.