After losing the starting job and spending some time in the AHL, Ilya Samsonov is back with the Toronto Maple Leafs and looking as confident as ever.
On Wednesday night, the Russian netminder put on arguably his best performance for the blue and white, stopping all 32 shots he faced and helping the Maple Leafs earn a 1-0 overtime win over the Winnipeg Jets.
It’s been a rocky road for Samsonov, who after giving up six goals on 21 shots against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 29, many thought would never play again in Toronto. But after Joseph Woll suffered a high-ankle sprain, the team could only rely so much on veteran goalie Martin Jones, forcing Samsonov to step up.
Having won two of his last three and only giving up four goals on 68 shots, a .941 SV% in that span, it’s his crease to lose.
On Thursday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk discuss Samsonov’s performance and where that leaves the Maple Leafs and their goalie situation.
Tyler Yaremchuk: It’s been a roller coaster of emotions for Samsonov, and on Wednesday, he led the Maple Leafs to their second win since his return from the AHL. Frank, does Samsonov have it in him to solve Toronto’s goalie woes?
Frank Seravalli: I think he does. He’s exuding some confidence that you can see, and it took a trip away from the team to spend some time with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies to work on his game to really find that. I think sometimes that’s the best thing you can do for a guy, rather than let him try and meander his way through it. Some teams just want you to power through it, but it doesn’t always work like that.
I like how they’ve been patient and let him work back in, and now he’s getting to a spot where as Joseph Woll is getting healther, we’re going to have a legitimate competition on our hands in Toronto.
You can watch the rest of the segment and the full episode here…
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