Toronto's starting goaltender is 2-0-0 but has allowed nine goals on 56 shots in his first two games this season.
Ilya Samsonov wasn't pleased with how he performed in his season-opening performance against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday. Following his 19-save performance in a 6-5 shootout win, he wanted to completely forget about the game.
On Saturday, the Russian netminder improved. He was a big factor in Toronto avoiding trouble in the first period. One memorable save was getting his pad on Minnesota Wild forward Brock Faber's attempt.
But he still allowed four goals on 32 shots in a 7-4 victory.
"Compared to the first one I feel more comfortable," Samsonov said following practice on Sunday. "Every game I’ve had a couple of sh*tty goals and sh*tty bounces."
The Russian goaltender hasn't had much help through the first couple of games. On opening night, Montreal's scoring chances were of the high-danger variety. On Saturday, he was on the wrong side of some bad deflections, notably Matt Boldy's goal, which went off the stick of Maple Leafs defenseman TJ Brodie.
Minnesota finished the game with 57 percent of the scoring chances at even strength, according to NaturalStatTrick.com.
"It’s just looking like it’s early and he hasn’t found his groove yet," Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said of Samsonov. "There should be a level of structure and security around the goaltenders that allows them to find that groove and their confidence and everything falls into place from there."
Samsonov says over the past week he's been working with goaltending coach Curtis Sanford to adjust his stance in goal. He says that has helped him and feel better between Games 1 and 2.
"One time when you try to get too low, it’s hard to move," Samsonov explained of the change. "You just have to get your stance a little bit higher and it will be easy to move."
An independent arbitrator awarded Samsonov a one-year, $3.55 million contract this summer after a season in which the goaltender posted a .919 save percentage while beating out Matt Murray for the starting goaltending position.
Joseph Woll will make his regular-season debut against Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday as the goaltender continues to work on some adjustments.
"I just believe you have to work hard and you’ll figure it out," Samsonov said.
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