Jones allowed just two goals and posted a .976 save percentage in a three-game California sweep.
Jones allowed just two goals and posted a .976 save percentage in a three-game California sweep.
SAN JOSE, Calif. — One can only imagine what the Toronto Maple Leafs would look like now if they didn't have Martin Jones.
With Ilya Samsonov struggling hard this season and Joseph Woll out since Dec. 7 with a high-ankle sprain, Toronto's third option in goal has played like a true No. 1 this season. He made 23 saves on 24 shots in a 4-1 victory against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday to cap off a three-game sweep of the Californian NHL teams.
And he did so while becoming the first Toronto goaltender this season to start in goal on consecutive nights by posting a 3-0 shutout against the Los Angeles Kings on Jan. 2, followed by a 2-1 victory against the Anaheim Ducks on Jan. 3.
"I’m just trying to play well and try to help the team win," Jones said on Saturday when asked if he felt he has proved something to himself. "[I'm] not trying to overthink too much. Just show up every day and work hard and do my best."
The 33-year-old goaltender didn't land a home with an NHL team immediately when free agency opened up on July 1. And this was even though he posted a 27-13-3 record last season and helped the Seattle Kraken earn their first post-season berth in just their second season of existence.
Perhaps it was the .887 save percentage that went along with his record that scared teams off. On August 9, the Leafs signed Jones to a one-year, $875,000 deal. With Samsonov and Woll firmly entrenched in their positions as the No. 1 and 2 goaltenders to start the 2023-24 season, Jones was signed as the No. 3 goaltender. There were questions about whether the goalie would clear waivers when rosters were to be cut down after training camp concluded, but Toronto cleverly put in a $100,000 signing bonus to be paid in October that likely scared teams off from claiming him.
Turned out to be a shrewd move as the goaltender defied all expectations under extraordinary circumstances.
"Coming in, you’re so focused on Woll and Samsonov and you’re really happy you have the depth and certainly thrilled that he got through waivers to remain with us," Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said. "As a coach, you’re hoping you don’t need him, quite frankly. The fact that he has done the job that he has and he has stabilized our group through a very important and difficult time is terrific."
When Samsonov began his struggles this season, nobody knew what to expect of Jones. In five appearances with the Toronto Marlies this season, Jones' 2-1-1 record with an .870 save percentage seemed to underwhelm.
Woll's injury on Dec. 7 forced a Jones' call up, but the Leafs were hoping Samsonov would regain his form as the No. 1 goalie. Instead, the Russian seemed to get worse with each game. With a 5-2-6 record and an .862 save percentage, the Leafs placed Samsonov on waivers to give him a "mental reset" while working with the Marlies. The team, reluctantly, called up Swedish goaltending prospect Dennis Hildeby in Samsonov's place.
The 6-foot-7 Hildeby joined the Leafs for their three-game road trip, but the club didn't start him in any games and rode the hot hand of Jones and the goaltender has proven Keefe right in his decision to do so.
"Jonesy’s done a good job coming in and just calming everyone down and being just a brick (wall) in that net," Mitch Marner said of Jones.
Going into Saturday's game against the Sharks, Toronto's goaltending of just Jones and Woll had a combined save percentage of .922, which would have put the Leafs with the best save percentage this season, according to Sportsnet Stats.
Among goaltenders who have played 10 games this season, Jones leads the NHL in goals saved above expected per 60 minutes played at 1.056, according to Moneypuck.com.
The Maple Leafs were going to re-evaluate Samsonov when they got back from California before deciding whether they keep Hildeby or send him back down and bring their Russian goalie back. With Jones playing as well as he has, there certainly seems to be little appetite to rush Hildeby into his first NHL start and Toronto could punt on that decision until next weekend when the Leafs have their next set of games on back-to-back nights beginning Saturday, Jan. 13 against the Colorado Avalance and Sunday, Jan. 14 against the Detroit Red Wings, respectively.
But perhaps more important with Jones, is the team is playing well defensively in front of him. His mere presence is probably enough to just keep rolling with the veteran.
Jones is 7-3-0 this season with a .932 save percentage.
"A credit to him and a credit to the players who have done a real nice job in front of him, too," Keefe said.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpXc_7Al3HY[/embed]
Related
News from THN.com
Three NHL Teams Who Should Look Into Acquiring Penguins' Jake Guentzel
How Could Connor Bedard's Injury Affect His Calder Trophy Bid?